12 injured in acid attack in London club

LONDON: At least 12 people suffered burns after a man sprayed a corrosive substance inside a packed club in east London on Easter evening, prompting authorities to launch an investigation into the incident.

Scotland Yard officers believe a man threw acid at two men after a dispute between two groups inside the venue, from where hundreds of partygoers were evacuated.

"A total of 12 people attended hospital suffering burns. Ten people were taken by ambulance and two people presented themselves at an east London hospital," Metropolitan Police said in a statement today.

Two of those injured remain in a serious but stable condition and others were treated for minor injuries.

"Officers believe a dispute between two groups of people developed inside the venue, resulting in a noxious substance being sprayed by a male suspect directly at Victims 1 and 2.

Other people inside the venue suffered the effects of the substance.

The substance is yet to be identified, but it is believed to have been acidic," the Met Police said.

An investigation is underway and no arrest has been made yet.

"There is nothing to suggest that this is gang related," the Met said.

It is understood about 600 people were at an event in the club on Easter Sunday when the incident took place.

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."