19 September 2024 , 08:18
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A children’s football team and their parents had ‘acid thrown on them’ as they got ready to begin a training session.
Five people have been treated by medics after a group on mopeds drove up to Burghley Road playing fields in Corby, Northamptonshire, and starting throwing what is thought to be acid over cars yesterday evening.
Children were arriving for football training with Hellenic Fisher FC at the time of the attack.
Horrified parents saying they saw as many as four moped drivers race across the field towards them, the Northamptonshire Telegraph reported.
The acid burnt through seven vehicles, with some onlookers saying they felt a tingling to their skin after coming into contact with the substance.
Armed police, fire and ambulance crews all rushed to the scene.
Sergeant Keely Cox of Corby Police said: ‘We are using all our resources this evening to catch the perpetrators. We do not believe this was a targeted attack.
The moped drivers allegedly drove up to the clubhouse before throwing the liquid
‘Five people have been treated although there are thankfully no serious injuries.
‘There have been at least seven cars damaged. This is exactly the kind of serious incident that Operation Pacify has been set up to prevent and we will do everything we can to try to catch those responsible.’
Hellenic Fisher FC coach Russell Dickinson said his car was one of the most damaged and will need extensive work to fix the paintwork.
The club’s chairman Paul Cunningham said: ‘The fence here has been broken for four months.
‘The clubhouse has been closed for two years and the council have still not repaired it.
‘Everyone’s safety is paramount at this club. This was not a targeted attack and it could have happened anywhere but we will speak to the council and we will ensure that they help us to prioritise repairs.’
Club Secretary Chris Moorey added: ‘We want motorbike gates up but they’ve not materialised.
‘If someone had been hit we would have needed water tonight and we couldn’t have got any because the clubhouse is closed. Someone could have been seriously hurt.’