Stratford Centre acid attack: Six injured in east London gang horror
SIX people have been injured in a suspected acid attack at Stratford Centre, in east London.
Police rush to scene of Stratford acid attack
A 15-year-old has been arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm (GBH) after reports a group were spraying a "noxious substance" in Stratford Centre, east London, today.
A manhunt is ongoing for others that are suspected of being involved.
Paramedics treated the injured at the scene and three people were rushed to hospital.
The area has been cordoned off.
Six people injured in a suspected acid attack in London
Scotland Yard said there was nothing to believe that the incident was terror-related and believed it was more likely to be related to rival gang activity.
The Metropolitan Police said there had been reports of a group of males spraying people with the substance.
Ambulance and fire services are also at the scene.
Those reported injured are believed to be in a number of different locations.
Police have cordoned off the area around the Stratford shopping centre
Police and paramedics were seen treating injured victims at Stratford tube station and a nearby bus shelter after the 8pm horror next to the former Olympic Park.
A police statement read: "Police were called just before 8.00pm on Saturday, September 23 to the area around Stratford Shopping Centre to reports of a group of males spraying what is believed to be a noxious substance.
"London Ambulance Service and London Fire Brigade have attended.
"A number of people have been reported injured at different locations - believed to be six people. We await further details.
Police and paramedics treated people at the scene
"One male has been arrested on suspicion of GBH.
"Officers remain on scene. A cordon is in place. Enquiries continue."
Shocked witnesses heard one victim shouting: "I can't see, I can't see" amid the panic at the nearby train station.
Witness Zak Abdi said: "I was about to leave the station and a few guys were scattering, and there were guys on the floor in agony, with their friends all around them.
A gang of youths were reportedly spraying people with a noxious substance
"The police locked off the whole area, it was just hectic. The police did what they can.
"It happened right outside Stratford, not far from the Westfield. I saw a group of guys running. Police couldn't stop them.
"It hit a group of men who looked like they were en route to a club.
"It didn't hit just one person, it hit a crowd of people. One guy had been hit in the face, he kept shouting 'I can't see, I can't see, I can't see'.
The emergency services attended the scene in east London where an acid attack took place
"I think he has lost his vision. He kept shouting, it was a scary moment for everyone.
"Everyone was just jumping out of the way, trying to escape the whole thing. I feel traumatised, it could have been me if I'd been two minutes later."
Another witness, an assistant manager at Burger King, said one victim ran into the fast food restaurant to wash 'acid' off his face.
The 28-year-old told the BBC: "There were cuts around his eyes and he was trying to chuck water into them."