Manhunt under way after nine injured in suspected corrosive substance attack

The incident occurred near Clapham Common, south London, on Wednesday evening (James Weech/PA)

A manhunt is under way after a young child was “slammed” to the floor before a suspected corrosive substance was thrown at her mother in an attack that left nine injured.

The Metropolitan Police said the woman and her two children were taken to hospital after a man threw the substance at them in south London at around 7.25pm on Wednesday.

Three members of the public who came to their aid and three Met officers who responded to the incident also suffered injuries.

London Ambulance Service said five were taken to a major trauma centre, three were taken to a local hospital and one was discharged at the scene.

The suspect fled the scene after the incident and no arrests have been made, the force said.

Eye witnesses told Sky News the suspect grabbed a young child from a white car in Lessar Avenue, near Clapham Common, before throwing her to the floor twice.

The witness, who asked not to be named, told the broadcaster the mother screamed “my eyes, my eyes” after the substance was thrown.

Clapham Common incident — Police at the scene in Lessar Avenue on Wednesday evening (James Weech/PA)

The witness told Sky News: “It was horrific.

“First a man grabbed his kid – a girl aged two or three from a white car. He threw her on to the floor twice. It was the worst thing I’ve ever seen.

“The man then threw something at the woman. She was screaming ‘my eyes, my eyes’.

“I then ran into my house, grabbed a water bottle and threw water on her eyes. Her lips were black. Her skin looked burnt.

“I then chased the man halfway down the street. I was wearing my slippers so didn’t get very far.”

London Ambulance Service said two incident response officers were sent to the scene, three ambulance crews and members of the hazardous area response team.

Detective Superintendent Alexander Castle said the injuries suffered by the responding officers were “minor”.

He said: “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.”

Marina Ahmad, Labour’s London Assembly member for Lambeth & Southwark, posted on X: “There has been a traffic collision with a man assaulting occupants in a car and throwing acid. Victims include children.”