1 February 2024 • 9:10am
9:01AM
Video: Manhunt after way after family targeted with ‘corrosive substance’
8:48AM
Water bottles at scene of suspected acid attack
Water bottles have been pictured at the scene of a suspected acid attack in South London.
Police said they believe a “corrosive substance” was thrown over a mother and two children on a road near Clapham Common.
![The scene in Lessar Avenue the morning after the night of the attack](https://i0.wp.com/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/news/2024/02/01/TELEMMGLPICT000364779574_17067771047010_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqpVlberWd9EgFPZtcLiMQf0Rf_Wk3V23H2268P_XkPxc.jpeg?resize=2500%2C1563&ssl=1)
The scene in Lessar Avenue the morning after the night of the attack
![Water bottles](https://i0.wp.com/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/news/2024/02/01/TELEMMGLPICT000364778832_17067771694680_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqpVlberWd9EgFPZtcLiMQf0Rf_Wk3V23H2268P_XkPxc.jpeg?resize=2500%2C1563&ssl=1)
Water bottles have been pictured at the scene of the suspected acid attack
8:18AM
MP ‘very concerned’ over reports of acid attack
Labour MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy tweeted she was “very concerned” by reports of an acid attack.
Police said tests are ongoing to determine the nature of the substance used in the attack but said it is believed to be “corrosive”.
8:07AM
Clapham attack in pictures
Let’s take a look at these photographs captured overnight at the scene of a suspected acid attack in Clapham, South London.
![Forensic officers inspect a white-coloured car behind the police cordon](https://i0.wp.com/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/news/2024/02/01/TELEMMGLPICT000364757542_17067746464840_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqA7N2CxnJWnYI3tCbVBgu9T0aesusvN1TE7a0ddd_esI.jpeg?resize=2500%2C1563&ssl=1)
Forensic officers inspect a white-coloured car behind the police cordon
Credit: Marcin Nowak/LNP/Marcin Nowak/LNP
![Specialist forensic officers have been deployed to the crime scene](https://i0.wp.com/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/news/2024/02/01/TELEMMGLPICT000364760435_17067746998110_trans_NvBQzQNjv4Bq15XUfPwoY7svuJOpueeorfglp-O-0tXy4cPh95DZ_mE.jpeg?resize=998%2C624&ssl=1)
Specialist forensic officers have been deployed to the crime scene
Credit: Marcin Nowak/LNP/Marcin Nowak/LNP
![The suspected attack took place on a road near Clapham Common](https://i0.wp.com/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/news/2024/02/01/TELEMMGLPICT000364764158_17067747720450_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqA7N2CxnJWnYI3tCbVBgu9T0aesusvN1TE7a0ddd_esI.jpeg?resize=2500%2C1563&ssl=1)
The suspected attack took place on a road near Clapham Common
Credit: James Weech/PA Wire/James Weech/PA Wire
8:00AM
Police statement on ‘horrific incident’
Scotland Yard released the following statement following the attack on Wednesday evening.
Detective Superintendent Alexander Castle said:
Officers are on scene following this horrific incident.
Three victims – a woman and her two young children – have been taken to hospital for treatment.
Three other people – all adults – have been taken to hospital for injuries sustained, we believe, as they came to their aid.
We will update as soon as we know more about their conditions.
Three police officers have also been taken to hospital after they responded to the incident. Thankfully we believe their injuries to be minor.
While tests are ongoing to determine what the substance is, at this stage we believe it to be a corrosive substance.
A man was seen fleeing the scene. 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.
7:56AM
Witness – Mother screamed ‘my eyes’ after attack
![acid](https://i0.wp.com/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/news/2024/02/01/TELEMMGLPICT000364775483_17067741159140_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqA7N2CxnJWnYI3tCbVBgu9T0aesusvN1TE7a0ddd_esI.jpeg?resize=2500%2C1563&ssl=1)
Forensic officer lifts the cordon at the scene of the suspected acid attack
A witness reported that the mother screamed “my eyes” and “police” after she was attacked with the substance.
The witness told The Sun that the mother, along with her children, had been in a car with a man. The pair got out of the vehicle and began fighting on the street.
The man then allegedly returned to the car and attempted to run the woman over.
The witness said: “There was a little baby girl banging on the door on the dad’s side, the lady was crying, screaming “my eyes, police”. He opened the door, took out the baby and banged her against the ground twice”.
Another witness told the BBC that the mother cried “I can’t see, I can’t see” as he tried to help her. “It was quite horrific,” he added.
7:52AM
Nine people injured in suspected acid attack in London
![Forensic officers gather evidence as police guard a cordon](https://i0.wp.com/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/news/2024/02/01/TELEMMGLPICT000364760515_17067736431620_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqpVlberWd9EgFPZtcLiMQf0Rf_Wk3V23H2268P_XkPxc.jpeg?resize=2500%2C1563&ssl=1)
Forensic officers gather evidence as police guard a cordon in Clapham
Credit: Marcin Nowak/LNP/Marcin Nowak/LNP
Nine people, including two children and three police officers, have been injured after a suspected acid attack in London on Wednesday night.
A woman and her two young children were the suspected victims of the attack, as a man is believed to have thrown a corrosive substance over them on a road near Clapham Common.
Police were called to the scene on Lessar Avenue at around 7.25pm on Wednesday alongside an ambulance service hazardous response team, and the woman and her children were taken to hospital.
Three other adults were also taken to hospital with injuries thought to have been suffered as they came to the aid of the woman and her children.
Firefighters later said they had used specialist equipment to detect the substance used in the attack.
Read more here: Nine people injured in suspected acid attack in London
7:45AM
Good morning
The Telegraph will be providing live updates as police investigate a suspected acid attack in South London which left nine people injured.
A woman and her two young children were the suspected victims of the attack, as a man is believed to have thrown a corrosive substance over them on a road near Clapham Common.
Three other adults were also taken to hospital with injuries thought to have been suffered as they came to the aid of the family.
The suspect remains at large.
We intend to bring you the latest developments on the investigation.