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Six treated after 'noxious substance attack' at Stratford in London Six treated after 'noxious substance attack' at Stratford in London
(35 minutes later)
Six people have been reported injured in a suspected noxious substance attack at an east London shopping centre, police said. Six people have been reported injured in a suspected noxious substance attack near an east London shopping centre, police said.
Scotland Yard said officers were called shortly before 8pm on Saturday to Westfield shopping centre in Stratford amid reports of a group of men spraying what is believed to be a noxious substance. Scotland Yard said officers were called shortly before 8pm on Saturday to the area of Westfield shopping centre in Stratford amid reports of a group of men spraying what is believed to be a noxious substance.
One man has been arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm. One man has been arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm. A cordon is in place as emergency workers continue to treat the injured.
Witnesses at the scene said an argument broke out among a group of people. A spokesman for the Metropolitan police said the attack was not being treated as terror related. Officers remain at the scene.
Witnesses at the scene said an argument had broken out among a group of people.
A man who gave his name as Hossen, 28, said he saw a victim and his friend run into bathroom at a fast food outlet “to wash acid off his face”.A man who gave his name as Hossen, 28, said he saw a victim and his friend run into bathroom at a fast food outlet “to wash acid off his face”.
He said: “There were cuts around his eyes and he was trying to chuck water into them.”He said: “There were cuts around his eyes and he was trying to chuck water into them.”
London ambulance service paramedics and the London fire brigade also attended as a number of victims were reported at different locations within the centre, with the number affected believed to be six people.London ambulance service paramedics and the London fire brigade also attended as a number of victims were reported at different locations within the centre, with the number affected believed to be six people.
A spokesman for the Metropolitan police said the attack was not being treated as terror related. Paul Gibson, assistant director of operations at London ambulance service, said: “We have sent a number of resources to the scene including paramedics, ambulance crews, an incident response officer and our hazardous area response team.
Officers remain at the scene and a cordon is in place. “So far, we have treated at least five patients at the scene and taken three patients to hospital.”
A significant rise in acid attacks in the UK has prompted calls in recent months to restrict the sale of corrosive substances which can be bought easily over the counter.