London is in the grip of a new kind of terrorism, with increasing acid-attacks across the city. Police officers have been issued with 1000 acid attack response kits after the rise in number of incidents involving the corrosive liquids. A number of attacks have taken place particularly in East London. However parents with young children, who are currently enjoying their summer vacation are now afraid to walk around in the city or drive with windows rolled down, fearing unprovoked acid-attacks. While nobody is sure if these attacks are racially motivated, experts have linked the rise in acid attacks to a crackdown on knives and guns, saying street gangs have started using corrosive substances because they are more readily available.
The number of crimes involving acid or other “noxious substances” has more than doubled in London in past three years. In 2016, there were 455 crimes in the city where a corrosive substance was used or threatened to be used. More than 400 were reported in the six months leading up to April 2017, according to new figures collected from forces across Britain. The terror of acid attacks in London alone has shot up by 65% – the equivalent to one every 20 hours – as a growing number of victims are left with life-changing injuries.
Areas such as the West Midlands and Essex have also seen large rises in acid attacks in recent years as reports have soared from 340 in 2014 to 843. But London’s spike has been worse than anywhere else.
What’s more troubling for the police is that the boom has been centralised on one specific area of the city. Newham, in East London, had three times more acid attacks than the next highest borough, with almost 400 of London’s 1,500 reports over the last five years happening there. The borough – that is home to Stratford’s Olympic Park, also includes more deprived areas such as West Ham, Plaistow and Forest Gate, neighbours to Hackney where some of the latest spree was carried out. East London neighbour Barking and Dagenham was the second biggest hotspot, whereas wealthier areas such as Kensington and Chelsea had the lowest level of attacks.
Criminologists believe gang members may be swapping guns and knives for acid as a weapon of choice as possession is hard to police and because of the lasting impact attacks have on their victims. Police say there is anecdotal evidence that young criminals are carrying acid following legislation introduced in 2015 that means an immediate jail term for a repeat offence of carrying a knife.
Stephen Timms, the Labour MP for East Ham called for carrying acid to be made a crime. Criminals who carry out acid attacks can be prosecuted for grievous bodily harm and jailed for life. A spokesman for the Met police reportedly said the force was working closely with the London fire brigade, the ambulance service, the Home Office and hospitals on how to deal with the issue.
In the last 2 weeks, there has been reported at least 6 such attacks, one on Monday a terrifying footage showed the moment a moped gang threw a liquid at a man outside Harrods before brave shoppers chased them away. Last Tuesday 2 Bangladeshi men in Tower Hamlets pulled up in a car in front of a corner shop in Bethnal Green, begging for water, as they burnt in acid. The Indian origin shopkeeper of the small off licence, Singh Supermarket, on Roman Road told the Daily Mail: “They said, ‘We’ve got acid on us, we’ve got acid on us!’
“They were pouring the water over themselves in the shop and it had got into their clothes – one of them was pouring it down his trousers.
“I was really scared. They were crying and saying, ‘Put the water on me!’”
Several emergency vehicles could also be seen attending the scene, including police cars, an ambulance and several fire engines, with victims hosed down with water.
The Evening Standard the pair were attacked while they sat in a car and identified them as Mohammed Afzal Hushain Ahmed and Mohammad Shakwat Hussain. Both were taken to hospital after flagging down police officers. Their injuries were described as life-changing but not life-threatening.
Rahad Hussain, 23, of no fixed abode appeared at Thames Magistrates Court on Saturday, July 29, on the charges as well as an additional charge of possession of an offensive weapon, namely acid, following his arrest two days earlier. He did not enter a plea and will appear again at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Tuesday, August 29.
On Friday an off-duty police officer and paramedic were sprayed in the face with an unknown corrosive substance after stopping to help at the scene of a major car fire. The pair joined other 'Good Samaritans' in lending a hand after a stolen car was involved in a serious collision with a lorry at around 7pm on Friday night. The vehicle crashed into the a metal barrier at the side of the M11 near Chigwell and Loughton in Essex, before bursting into flames.
Following the collision, the drivers of the stolen car left the vehicle and sprayed an unknown substance in the faces of two people who were among those who had stopped to assist. Just minutes before collision, police had been alerted to the blue VW Golf being stolen from outside a nearby shop.
The victim in the car theft, a man in his 20s, reported that one of the men held a knife in his hand. One suspect was described as Asian, and between 25 to 30 years old. He had a dark beard, and was wearing a baseball cap, a navy blue buttoned top, and dark coloured bottoms. He also had a small, black leather bag with him.
Diaspora living in fear
When asked if Britons especially Londoners feel afraid to walk on the streets after the increasing numbers of these acid attacks, many people have came forward to tell Asian Voice what they feel.
Vandana Bharadwaj said, “Yes, I definitely feel unsafe! I mostly walk or take public transport. These acid attacks have really scared me. I am avoiding to go out on busy times and days.”
Rajani Nair said, “I think twice before opening the door to the delivery men too now. Look through the window first, make sure and then open.”
Kalyani Nori said, “I don't live in London but I am put off to travel to London. I used to love going out with friends specially as it's a cool place to hang out specially in the evenings. I don't want to sound pessimistic and give in to terror but I like the government authorities to show increased level to security measures in public places to make me travel in peace. I still love London and I wish well.”
Charu told the newspaper, “For me, the scary part is that these perpetrators are mostly unknown to the victims. We are, in effect, dealing with a faceless enemy, whose sole purpose is to destroy us brutally. Racial motivation drives most of these recent cases, I believe. I think so because of the political timing of these attacks. The helplessness in not being able to contain this is infuriating and threatens my freedom. This doesn't mean I'll stop going out on the streets or not use public transport, but I'll constantly think about what can happen to me there, and it drains me.”
Shabana Khanam said, “With recent incidents happening around and soo much on news I was walking to station to get to office while crossing road I had a car slowing down and a bloke lowered his side of car glass my instinct was he might attack me, so I was trying to move away however it ended he wanted to find a local hospital in the area I live. It was a relief with so much negativity going around not sure when we let our guards off.”
Roopa Lutzenberger told the newsweekly , “Being a Londoner most of my life, I never had this fear as I have now. It does concern me having read many incidents with Asians as victims or perpetrators. This worrying trend is becoming common and I am on my guard these days walking the street as many are unprovoked attacks. I have also spread awareness in many groups as to what to do if an acid attack happens and how to take precautions. Along with that I am spreading the word out on petitions for regulated acid sale and stricter punishments for perpetrators.”
Deepa said, “I feel more vulnerable when walking o driving with my children. Unwillingly I have made some changes to my life – I don't drive windows down, lock car doors without fail and the saddest part is I have stopped wearing shalwar kurta or kurta on jeans when visiting public places.”
Elizabeth Marie told AV, I wear large sunglasses and carry water at all times, which I tend to do anyway. I don't feel unsafe, I'm aware of what is going on around me in the streets. I have no reason to think it is racially motivated but acid is the weapon of true cowards. Purchase of these chemicals should be licensed. Even liquid nitrogen usage should be licensed, remember the girl who drank it in a cocktail bar? It's minus 292 celsius, her insides burned. Scientists agree with me, you don't need any of those substances in every day life.”
Honey Priya said, “I live with my child alone in East London. I have reduced stepping out all by ourselves late evenings in fear of being victims of such attacks. We say India is unsafe. Can't believe this will be the situation in a city like London.”
