9 Injured in South London after alleged ‘Substance’ attack

In a distressing incident in south London, nine individuals suffered injuries following a suspected corrosive substance attack on a woman and two young children in Clapham’s Lessar Avenue.

The Metropolitan Police responded to the incident around 7:25 pm on Wednesday, January 31. A woman and two children were reportedly targeted with the corrosive substance, leading to injuries.

Subsequently, three members of the public and three police officers were also injured while coming to their aid. Five of those involved were transported to the hospital.

Detective Superintendent Alexander Castle noted that the injuries sustained by the officers were minor, stating,

“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.”

As of now, no arrests have been made, and the police assured that updates on the conditions of the injured individuals would be provided soon.

Local politician Marina Ahmad, Labour’s London Assembly member for Lambeth and Southwark, shared on social media that the victims, including children, were in a car when the assault occurred.

Firefighters, equipped with specialized gear, responded to the chemical incident and provided immediate emergency care. The London Fire Brigade reported using specialist equipment to detect the corrosive substance believed to have been used in the attack.

A London Ambulance Service spokesperson confirmed their response to the incident, stating,

“We treated nine people, five of whom were taken to a major trauma center. Three patients were taken to a local hospital, and the other was discharged at the scene.”