Twelve Injured In Hackney Nightclub Acid Attack

At least 12 people suffered burns after a man sprayed acid inside a club in east London.

Hundreds of revellers were evacuated from Mangle E8 in Sidworth Street, Dalston, after police were called at about 01:10 BST.

Officers believe a man threw acid at two men after a dispute between two groups inside the venue. Two men in their 20s remain in a serious but stable condition in hospital. Ten other people were were treated for minor injuries, the Metropolitan Police said.

A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: “The only information that we have is that it was an unknown corrosive substance thrown within the nightclub. “It was identified by a pH paper test as a strong acidic substance.”

It is understood about 600 people were at an event in the club.

Officers said 10 people were taken to hospital by ambulance, while a further two sought treatment at A&E. They said no arrests had been made and officers were continuing to investigate.

The police added there was no evidence to suggest the attack was gang related.

A woman who lives in a block of flats overlooking the nightclub described a scene of confusion as crowds were moved up the street away from the venue.

The tenant, who asked not to be named, said: “It happened so fast - they rushed people out. I thought it was a stabbing because all I heard was ‘move, move, move - move out of the area’.” She added: “The security were telling the crowd to go down that way - people on this side were waiting to go home but they couldn’t go home because the road was closed.

Witness Phie McKenzie tweeted: “Scary scenes tonight, we have heard reports of chemical burns of people in the building here”.

London Ambulance Service said it sent a number of ambulance crews and a hazardous area response team to the venue.