Clapham acid assault: Manhunt as woman and children targeted with corrosive substance in Lessar Avenue, South London

A person threw a toddler to the ground twice like he was in a “wrestling ring” in the course of the suspected acid assault, a witness informed The Independent.

Shannon Christi, 35, ran out on listening to the mom scream for assist. She noticed a person in black throwing a toddler to the ground twice “like he was in the wrestling ring”.

Without hesitation she ran in the direction of him and grabbed the 3-year-old woman off the ground and introduced her inside to security.

Her companion dressed in his slippers ran after the suspect chasing him away down the road. She informed The Independent: “I heard screaming ‘help, help’ and came outside.

“I saw the man throwing the girl on the floor like he was in a wrestling ring. He was angry. I rushed in and grabbed her. I didn’t see what he looked like or where he went I was focussed on her.

“I poured water on her and called the ambulance. The child was crying she told me her name and she was three but I couldn’t hear her through the tears.”

Ms Christi had gone to get hospital remedy when her lips and her arm began to burn after coming into contact with the kid.

She added: “I just hope she is ok. I would do it again in an instant 100 per cent. I couldn’t leave her like that.”

Detective Superintendent Alexander Castle mentioned on an announcement late on Wednesday: “Officers are on scene following this horrific incident.

“Three victims – a woman and her two young children – have been taken to hospital for treatment.

“Three other people – all adults – have been taken to hospital for injuries sustained, we believe, as they came to their aid.

“We will update as soon as we know more about their conditions.

“Three police officers have also been taken to hospital after they responded to the incident. Thankfully we believe their injuries to be minor.

“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.

“The National Police Air Service are assisting us. Any members of the public who can help us with information or material should call 999 immediately ref CAD 7790/31 Jan.”

Police have arrange a cordon on Lessar Avenue, close to Clapham Common, after an assault on Wednesday night.

Read The Independent’s report of the assault in Clapham in full beneath.

We have some extra quotes from one other eyewitness on the scene of the assault final night time.

One man, who wished to stay nameless, informed the BBC: “We came outside and saw this guy and he took a girl out of the car and he slammed her to the ground twice.

“I chased him half way down the road but I was in slippers so did not get very far.

“As I came back, that’s when I saw the woman who had been attacked … so I ran inside to get some water and just sprayed her down with water.”

A complete of 9 people, together with a woman, her two children and three officers had been injured as a results of the incident. The accidents of the responding officers are regarded as minor, Detective Superintendent Alexander Castle mentioned in a information launch.

All of the injured people had been handled on the scene, with 5 being transported to a serious trauma centre. Three had been taken to a neighborhood hospital for remedy and one different individual was discharged on the scene.

Marina Ahmad, a London meeting member, mentioned the suspected acid assault stemmed from a site visitors collision, including {that a} man was “assaulting occupants in a car and throwing acid,” she wrote on X.

Bell Ribeiro-Addy, MP for Streatham, wrote: “Very concerned to hear reports of an acid attack on Lessar Avenue in Clapham earlier tonight around 7.25pm, which has resulted in multiple injuries.”

She added: “I’ll share more updates when I receive them.

“In the meantime, please avoid the area if possible whilst our emergency services carry out their work.”1