UberEATS and Deliveroo drivers first on scene at acid attacks in London

Food delivery drivers rallied around as a series of acid attacks took place in London last night.

A 16-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of robbery and grievous harm after two men on a moped carried out five acid attacks in less than 90 minutes, police said.

Two of the incidents, which police said appeared to be linked, involved victims having their mopeds stolen, while one victim has been left with “life-changing” injuries after being doused on Thursday night in the east of the capital.

It has emerged that some of the first people to jump into action were delivery drivers from UberEATS and Deliveroo.

Sarah Cobbold, who witnessed the attack, tweeted: “Police and ambulances on Hackney/Queensbridge Road, possible acid/petrol attack. Lots of @UberEATS @Deliveroo drivers rallied round.”

An UberEATS spokesman said: “We were shocked to hear about the horrific acid attacks that happened last night. Some couriers who work with UberEATS were in the area and able to help where they could.

“We are trying to contact couriers so we can help the police get any information that will assist their investigation.”

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London Ambulance Service said they were called to the first attack in Hackney Road at 10.16pm, while police were alerted to the night’s final assault at 11.37pm.

In the first incident, a 32-year-old moped rider was approached by the pair as he drove towards the Hackney Road junction with Queensbridge Road.

Two men threw a noxious substance into his face before one of them jumped onto the victim’s vehicle and drove away.

One witness saw police pouring huge bottles of water over the victim just outside her flat.

Sub-editor Sarah Cobbold, 29, told the Press Association: “I had thought someone must have chucked petrol or acid on him or something because they were covering him in water, but I have never seen that reaction to an attack, I thought maybe there had been an accident.”

Just over 20 minutes later, at around 10.50pm, another victim had been sprayed with a searing liquid by the pair at the Upper Street junction with Highbury Corner in Islington, then at around 11.05pm, the fast-moving attackers swooped on a man in Shoreditch High Street, tossing a substance in his face.

Within 15 minutes, the attackers appeared to have struck again, launching a corrosive substance at a man in Upper Clapton Road, causing “life-changing” facial injuries.

The final assault was reported to police at 11.37pm, when another man was confronted as he sat on his moped in traffic in Chatsworth Road. After again spraying a liquid in the victim’s face, the moped was stolen and both attackers fled.

Labour MP Stephen Timms, who will lead an adjournment debate on acid attacks in the Commons on Monday, has called for tougher sentences for those found guilty, while Commissioner Cressida Dick revealed the Home Office is working with the Met to see if a change in the law is needed.

She branded acid attacks “completely barbaric”, telling LBC: “The acid can cause horrendous injuries; the ones last night involved a series of robberies we believe are linked – I am glad to see we have arrested somebody.”

(Top picture: Twitter/Sarah Cobbold)