A 16-year-old year old boy has been charged in relation to a spate of acid attacks in London, in which one victim sustained what Metropolitan Police describe as “life-changing” injuries.
Five separate attacks took place in the span of 90 minutes on Thursday night.
Police allege an attacker, who was with another assailant, threw a corrosive substance into the face of a 32-year-old moped rider in Hackney. One of the two attackers then took off with the victim’s moped. The victim was hospitalised with non-life threatening injuries.
Video emerged on social media of witnesses pouring large bottles of water over the victim in an attempt to wash away the liquid.
Some 20 minutes later, another moped rider was sprayed with the liquid. He, too, was taken to hospital for his injuries. Just after 11pm, a third rider was attacked in the same manner, and also received medical treatment.
In the next fifteen minutes, a fourth moped rider was attacked and sustained the “life-changing” injuries. He was rushed to an east London hospital for treatment.
The fifth victim was doused with the liquid at around 11.37pm. After that attack, one of the assailants also stole his moped.
Rumours that each victim was working as a food delivery rider were later proven false, however each victim was riding a moped at the time of the attacks.
The accused 16-year-old has been hit with a litany of changes, including five counts of attempted grievous bodily harm with intent, one count of grievous bodily harm with intent, a number of robbery-related charges, and one count of “possession of an item to discharge a noxious substance.”
He was remanded in custody and will appear before Stratford Youth Court tomorrow.
A 15-year-old boy arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and robbery was released on bail, and he’ll face court some time in August.
Source: BBC / News.com.au / Metropolitan Police.
Photo: Sarah Cobbold / Twitter.
