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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Worcester 'acid attack': Boy aged three injured | Worcester 'acid attack': Boy aged three injured |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A three-year-old boy has been seriously injured in a suspected acid attack in a shop. | A three-year-old boy has been seriously injured in a suspected acid attack in a shop. |
| The boy was "deliberately attacked" at Home Bargains in Worcester at 14:15 BST on Saturday, West Mercia Police said. | The boy was "deliberately attacked" at Home Bargains in Worcester at 14:15 BST on Saturday, West Mercia Police said. |
| He is being treated in hospital for serious burns to his arm and face. | He is being treated in hospital for serious burns to his arm and face. |
| A 39-year-old man from Wolverhampton has been arrested in connection with the incident at Shrub Hill Retail Park, Tallow Hill. | A 39-year-old man from Wolverhampton has been arrested in connection with the incident at Shrub Hill Retail Park, Tallow Hill. |
| Ch Supt Mark Travis described it as a "deliberate attack". The city's MP said it was "horrific", while the city council leader described it as "pure evil". | |
| Police released images taken from CCTV footage. | Police released images taken from CCTV footage. |
| "The three men in the photo may have information vital to our investigation", Ch Supt Travis said. | "The three men in the photo may have information vital to our investigation", Ch Supt Travis said. |
| "I am sure someone will recognise them and I would urge anyone with information to contact us as a matter of urgency." | "I am sure someone will recognise them and I would urge anyone with information to contact us as a matter of urgency." |
| "The incident will rightly shock the local community and I would like to reassure local people that we are carrying out a thorough investigation to identify those responsible," Ch Supt Travis added. | "The incident will rightly shock the local community and I would like to reassure local people that we are carrying out a thorough investigation to identify those responsible," Ch Supt Travis added. |
| The motive for the attack is so far "unclear", police said. | The motive for the attack is so far "unclear", police said. |
| Officers said they were working to determine what the substance involved was and exactly what happened. | Officers said they were working to determine what the substance involved was and exactly what happened. |
| The 39-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm, and remains in police custody. | The 39-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm, and remains in police custody. |
| 'Universal shock' | 'Universal shock' |
| Robin Walker, MP for Worcester, described the incident as "horrific". | Robin Walker, MP for Worcester, described the incident as "horrific". |
| "The shock will be universal. Anyone conducting such an attack on a small child is just appalling," he said. | "The shock will be universal. Anyone conducting such an attack on a small child is just appalling," he said. |
| "It's an issue which rightly there has been a lot of concern in Parliament and a move to toughen sentences for any kind of acid attack. | "It's an issue which rightly there has been a lot of concern in Parliament and a move to toughen sentences for any kind of acid attack. |
| "But particularly the nature of this being a small child is very concerning indeed. | "But particularly the nature of this being a small child is very concerning indeed. |
| "At this stage the key thing is for the police to act quickly and see if they can track down the perpetrator and understand what's behind it, because it is an unthinkable thing to happen." | "At this stage the key thing is for the police to act quickly and see if they can track down the perpetrator and understand what's behind it, because it is an unthinkable thing to happen." |
| 'Pure evil' | |
| A spokeswoman for Home Bargains declined to comment on the attack. | |
| However, Worcester City Council leader Marc Bayliss said it was "absolutely pure evil". | |
| He said: "Worcester is not that sort of place. We are a quintessential small English city. | |
| "I have never heard of an acid attack in Worcester, so this is absolutely not something we have any experience of." | |
| He urged anyone with information to come forward, and added: "Think if this was a member of your family, an innocent child, a three-year-old probably scarred or damaged for life by this. | |
| "We need to bring the perpetrators to justice, and quickly." |