Firefighters detect “corrosive substance”

The London Fire Brigade said: “Firefighters were called to a chemical incident on Lessar Avenue in Clapham this evening.

“Working alongside emergency service partners, crews provided immediate emergency care to a woman and two children.

“Five further people were also treated at the scene. They were all taken to hospital by London Ambulance Service crews.

“Crews also used specialist equipment to detect a corrosive substance that is believed to have been used in the incident.”

Who to contact

Any members of the public who can help with information or material regarding yesterday’s incident should call 999 immediately ref CAD 7790/31 Jan.

You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously at 0800 555 111.

What have police said?

Met Police Detective Superintendent Alexander Castle said: “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.”

MP calls for public support as manhunt continues

Labour MP Marina Ahmad has called on the public for information as continue their hunt.

“There has been a traffic collision with a man assaulting occupants in a car and throwing acid,” Mrs Ahmad wrote.

“Victims include children. 7.25pm Lessar Avenue, Clapham Common South Side, SW4.

“If you have any information, please contact Crimestoppers 0800 555 111, completely anonymously.”

Witnesses describe horror attack

One witness told the Mail: “It was the worst thing I’ve ever seen.

“She was screaming, ‘My eyes! My eyes!’ Her skin looked burnt.”

An urgent hunt has been launched for a man who fled the scene moments after the attack.

A resident on the road told the BBC: “I chased him halfway down the road, but I was in slippers so didn’t get very far.”

‘Really bad scream’

A local saw the aftermath of the attack said his mother heard a “really bad scream” during the suspected attack.

He told of seeing a pair of baby’s shoes lying on the floor next to an abandoned car.

He said: “I saw acid on the ground and two baby shoes on the floor.

“The car was in the middle of the road with the doors open.

“My mum and the neighbours heard a really bad scream. I just saw the baby shoes on the ground.”