Chemical attack victim screamed 'my eyes' as suspect 'threw kid' before fleeing

01 February 2024 , 07:28

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Chemical attack victim screamed 'my eyes' as suspect 'threw kid' before fleeing

A victim of an chemical attack last night screamed "my eyes, my eyes" as the suspect grabbed a toddler and "threw her onto the floor".

The man allegedly threw a substance at the woman that left her "lips black" and "skin burnt" following a row in a white car on a residential street near Clapham Common, south London.

A traumatised witness said the horror was "the worst thing (he'd) ever seen" as the man allegedly tore the little girl - believed to be his own daughter - out of the car and hurled her to the ground twice. She reportedly sustained injuries in the attack.

He is then believed to have doused the woman with a chemical substance. The witness dashed to the woman's aid and poured water on her face, but claims her injuries were already visible.

Speaking to Sky News, the witness said: "It was horrific. First a man grabbed his kid - a girl aged two or three from a white car. He threw her onto the floor - twice! It was the worst thing I've ever seen. The man then threw something at the woman. She was screaming: 'My eyes! My eyes!'"

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Two children, their mother and three police officers were among nine people injured in the ugly scenes last night, Metropolitan Police confirmed, as they said no arrests had been made. A manhunt has now been launched to find the culprit.

Forensic officers were seen wearing protective gear at the scene last night (Marcin Nowak/LNP)

The witness said the man who threw the substance fled on foot and, although the witness pursued him, he was unable to catch the man. The witness' partner - a woman in her 20s - claims droplets of the substance fell on her skin and she needed treatment in hospital.

Five of the nine people treated at the scene were taken to a major trauma centre, according to the ambulance service. Three more were taken to a local hospital and one was discharged at the scene. The fire brigade said they were called to a "chemical incident" and gave emergency care to a woman and her two children.

Detective Superintendent Alexander Castle said: "We are drawing on resources from across the Met to apprehend this individual and work is ongoing to determine what has led to this awful incident." He said the substance was believed to be "corrosive" but that tests were ongoing.

Det Supt Castle added that the injuries to the police officers didn't appear serious. Local councillors Alison Inglis-Jones and Ben Curtis thanked emergency services for rapidly cordoning off the scene and said they were "in total disbelief and shock at what has happened".

Bradley Jolly