Two teenagers are in hospital following a suspected acid attack outside a school in west London, with one of the victims suffering potentially life-changing injuries.
The incident occurred on Monday afternoon near Westminster Academy, where a corrosive substance was thrown at students and a staff member.
Police confirmed that a 14-year-old girl has been hospitalized with injuries that “may potentially be life-changing.” A 16-year-old boy, also injured in the attack, is being treated in hospital, although his injuries are not considered life-threatening.
A third victim, a 27-year-old woman, has since been discharged from the hospital after suffering non-life-changing injuries.
In a statement, London police said, “Tests of the substance are ongoing. At this stage officers believe it to be acidic.” Authorities are conducting “urgent enquiries” to identify and arrest those responsible for the attack.
Numera Anwar, the principal of Westminster Academy, expressed concern for the victims and the community, describing the event as a “distressing incident” involving what appeared to be an “acid-like corrosive substance.”
She confirmed that the attack happened outside the school building as students and staff were leaving for the day.
“The school was closed Tuesday to allow for a thorough investigation and to ensure the school can resume normally from tomorrow with all safety measures in place,” Anwar added.
The attack is part of a worrying trend in the UK, where the use of corrosive substances in assaults spiked in recent years before seeing a resurgence in 2022.
London, in particular, has witnessed a rise in teenage violence, including knife crime and shootings. In July, a 15-year-old boy was found fatally shot in a park near the scene of Monday’s incident.
Westminster City Council leader Adam Hug described the attack as “truly shocking” and vowed to work with police to support the affected school and community.
Two police officers who responded to the scene were also taken to the hospital as a precaution after feeling unwell, though their conditions were not serious.
