London - British police said on Friday that two boys aged 15
and 16 are in custody on suspicion of involvement in five acid
attacks carried out by two suspects on mopeds the previous evening
within the space of 72 minutes.
Both teens were arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and
robbery after the crime spree, which started at 10:25 pm (2125
GMT) in the east London borough of Hackney, where two males riding a
moped attacked a man with acid and made off with his moped.
The subsequent attacks - carried out by two men on mopeds - occurred
at 10:49 pm in the central Islington area, and at 11:05 pm, 11:18 pm
and 11:37 pm back in east London, police said in a statement.
All five victims suffered injuries in the attacks, though none of
them were in life-threatening condition. However, police described
one of the victims' injuries as "life-changing."
Confirming the arrests, Chief Inspector Ben Clark said: "These are
hideous offences and must have been very frightening for all of the
victims."
"Of late we have seen more attacks using corrosive substances in
London. I would urge businesses and parents to challenge those who
they think may be trying to obtain or carry these substances as this
could help prevent serious offences," he added.
Police has called for witnesses, as well as those with information or
in possession of footage of the incidents, to come forward.
Data obtained from the Metropolitan Police by the BBC through Freedom
of Information requests shows there have been more than 1,800 reports
of attacks involving corrosive fluids since 2010.
Their use had been recorded in murders, robberies and rapes.
British Prime Minister Theresa May referred to the crime spree as
"horrific."
She said through her spokeswoman that it was "already an offence to
carry acid or a corrosive substance with intent to cause harm" and
that her government was working with the police to see what more
could be done.
Speaking to LBC radio in the wake of the attacks, Metropolitan Police
chief Cressida Dick said: "Acid attacks are completely barbaric. It's
a new trend in this country. The acid can cause horrendous injuries."
Jaf Shah of Acid Survivors Trust International said acid attacks had
"effectively doubled" in the past year and that that the possession
of corrosive substances should carry the same penalty as knife
possession to avoid an "explosion" of such crimes.
But the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) said it is virtually
impossible to ban the sale of all corrosive substances because many
are household products, such as bleach and drain cleaner, which are
available over the counter.