Two men on a moped carried out five acid attacks in a vicious 90-minute spree of violence in London.
The thugs pulled up alongside five men and doused them with corrosive substances in Stoke Newington, Hackney and Islington between 10.25pm and 11.37pm on Thursday, police said.
One of the victims was left with 'life-changing' injuries, while another was said to be a pizza delivery man attacked on a night shift.
Metropolitan Police said a teenage male had been arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and robbery. He is currently in custody at an east London police station.
The shocking incidents come after a spate of acid attacks across Britain, including one on a 21-year-old model who was left with horrific burns to her face.
Police were called to the junction of Hackney Road and Queensbridge Road in Hackney at about 10.25pm, where they found a 32-year-old man with facial injuries.
He had been on a moped when another scooter, with two male riders, pulled up alongside him.
Officers said the men threw a corrosive substance in the victim’s face, with one stealing his vehicle and his accomplice fleeing on the other moped
The man has been taken to an east London hospital. His injuries are not being treated as life-threatening or life-changing.
At 11.05pm, a corrosive substance was reported to have been thrown in the face of a man by two men on a moped in Shoreditch High Street.
The victim was taken to hospital, but the injuries were not believed to be life-threatening or life-changing.
At 11.18pm, police received reports of a robbery in Cazenove Road, Stoke Newington, where a corrosive substance had been thrown.
A man has been taken to an east London hospital with facial injuries, they have been described as 'life-changing'.
A fourth incident, in Chatsworth Road, Hackney, was reported to police at 11.37pm.
A man said he had been on his moped in traffic when two men on a scooter pulled up alongside him, sprayed liquid in his face and made off with his vehicle.
The victim made his way home before calling police.
He was taken to an east London hospital and his injuries are not life-threatening or life-changing.
Following the incidents in east London, officers were made aware of a similar attack reported in Islington.
At 10.49pm, a man was reported to have had a corrosive substance thrown in his face by two men on a moped at the junction of Upper Street with Highbury Corner.
He was taken to a north London hospital. Police are awaiting an update on his condition.
All five incidents are being treated as linked at this time, police said in a statement.
Enquiries are ongoing and officers from Hackney CID are investigating.
It comes just weeks after a woman was left with life-changing injuries after a similar incident in Beckon, east London.
Resham Khan was celebrating her 21st birthday with her cousin when they were both attacked.
Anyone with information or in possession of footage of the incidents is urged to contact police on 101 or tweet @MetCC. Alternatively, they can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
'Pain is unbearable': Brave acid attack victim reveals her agony in harrowing open letter as she describes how she is 'patiently waiting for the return of my face'
A brave acid attack victim today said she was 'patiently waiting for the return of my face' in a harrowing open letter telling of her 'unbearable pain'.
Aspiring model Resham Khan, 21, and her cousin Jameel Muhktar, 37, both suffered 'life-changing' burns in the attack in Beckton, East London.
Now Miss Khan has said she wants to ensure 'no one ever goes through the living nightmare I have endured' after being left with horrific face and neck injuries after the incident on June 21.
It comes as a campaign to change the law to make corrosive substances much harder to buy gained momentum as it hit more than 360,000 signatures online.
In her letter, Miss Khan wrote: 'I invite you all in once again to reflect upon my 21st birthday. A milestone age for many reasons, we must remember that any opportunity to mark or celebrate the occasion was stolen from me.
'Stolen in one of the most painfully scarring ways I could ever imagine. My plans are in pieces; my pain is unbearable, and I write this letter in hospital whilst I patiently wait for the return of my face.
'Currently, I have two main priorities: to make a full recovery and to make sure no one ever goes through the living nightmare I have endured.
'Since the attack and the vast media coverage, the disturbing rise of attacks using corrosive substances as a weapon has been brought to the public's attention.'
She said that the number of incidents involving corrosive substances in London has risen from 186 in 2014/2015 to 397 in 2016/2017.
Miss Khan added: 'Street gangs are now using these life-changing substances instead of guns and knives. Why are acids the new street weapon?
'Because corrosive substances are readily available in-store and online for as little as £6.50 and the laws surrounding possession is loose.
John Tomlin has been charged with two counts of grievous bodily harm with intent
'I cannot sit back whilst others remain indoors in fear of this happening to them. This problem needs to be eliminated. I refuse to allow the country I grew up in to simply get used to corrosive substance attacks. The fear is real. The crime is real.'
John Tomlin has been charged with two counts of grievous bodily harm with intent
She has provided a five-point plan, including asking police to take a tougher approach on corrosive substances and retailers to consider regulation changes.
She also wants harsher punishments for acid attack perpetrators and the possession of corrosive substances without good reason to be punishable.
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