A 14-year-old girl has been left her with ‘severe injuries’ that require urgent and long-term medical care after a suspected acid attack outside a school in west London.
Two pupils – the schoolgirl and a boy aged 16 – were hurt in the incident outside Westminster Academy, Westbourne Park, on Monday afternoon.
A 27-year-old woman who works as a teacher at the school and rushed to help the children was also wounded.
Police are still hunting for the ‘lone suspect’ who appeared on an e-scooter and threw the ‘corrosive’ substance.
A fundraiser has now been set up for the girl by her father to pay for her care and support.
Corey McFarlane said his ‘beautiful’ daughter was the victim of the ‘horrific acid attack’.
‘Words cannot express the shock, pain, and trauma she is going through right now, both physically and emotionally,’ he wrote.
‘This senseless act of violence has left her with severe injuries that require urgent and long-term medical care, surgeries, rehabilitation, and mental health support.
‘As we focus on her recovery, we also need help to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice.
‘We are working closely with authorities, but any support we can get from the community to spread awareness, gather information, and assist the investigation would be deeply appreciated.’
Mr McFarlane added that his daughter is a ‘fighter’ who needs her community behind her ‘more than ever’.
Officers on patrol were flagged down by school staff after the incident in Alfred Road at shortly after 4.40pm.
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Both teenagers remain in hospital, with the boy’s injuries described as not life-threatening or life-changing. Meanwhile, the woman has since been discharged.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that two officers were also taken to hospital as a precaution after they reported feeling unwell.
Detective chief inspector Dean Purvis, who is leading the investigation, said: ‘From our enquiries so far we believe the two young victims were on Alfred Road when they were approached by a lone suspect who threw a substance at them before fleeing down Harrow Road.
‘A member of staff bravely and selflessly rushed to provide first aid to the two victims, sustaining injuries to herself in the process. Fortunately she has now left hospital.
‘For the 14-year-old girl we might not know for some time how severe her injuries are but at this time they are being treated as life-changing.
‘I know how incredibly concerning this incident is to parents and pupils and the wider Westminster community.’
The suspect is described as a tall, slim, black male, wearing dark clothing with his face obscured, possibly by a mask or balaclava. He rode an e-scooter to and from the scene.
Westminster Academy remained closed on Tuesday, with lessons taking place online, according to a statement on its website.
The school’s principal, Numera Anwar, said in a statement: ‘One pupil, a teacher and a member of the public have been injured in an incident outside the school building on the main road involving an acid-like corrosive substance.
‘This was a distressing incident which took place after school hours when students and staff were leaving the school site. We are offering support to families and relatives of all involved.
‘This is a difficult time for our community and I took the decision to close the school today to allow for a thorough investigation and to ensure the school can resume normally from tomorrow with all safety measures in place.’
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