Nine people, including a police officer and a child, were injured when a substance believed to be corrosive was thrown in south London. Police said a man and two young children had a substance thrown at them on Clapham Common on Wednesday night (January 31).
Fire brigade, paramedics and police rushed to the scene of the incident on Lesser Avenue. Police said three other adults appeared to have been injured while trying to help the woman and children and were taken to hospital.
Three police officers were also taken to the hospital after responding. The injured person appears to have only minor injuries. London Fire Brigade also confirmed they were called to the scene due to a “chemical incident”.
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The suspect is believed to have then fled the scene, and an investigation by the Metropolitan Police Department is currently underway.
Detective Superintendent Alexander Castle said: ‘Testing is underway to determine what the substance is, but at this stage we believe it is a corrosive substance.
“A man was seen fleeing the scene. We are using resources across the Met to apprehend this individual and work is underway to establish what led to this horrific incident.” .”
No arrests have been made and police said they would update the situation on the injured as soon as possible.
Marina Ahmad, Labor London MP for Lambeth & Southwark, posted on X: Victims include children. ”