London acid attack: Police release image of suspect after woman and teenage girl struck with sulphuric acid

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Six weeks after a teenage girl and a woman were squirted with sulphuric acid by a man in a white van, he remains on the run. Scotland Yard have now released an e-fit image of the suspected attacker.

The 13-year-old was travelling with a 63-year-old woman down a residential street in south London lined with parked cars when the van came towards them.

As the road was not wide enough for two cars to pass, the woman tried to pull into a tight parking spot before winding down her window to have a word with the van driver.

Described as chubby with ginger hair and aged around 40, the white male driver then squirted a liquid from a plastic “squeezy” bottle which hit the pair, according London's Metropolitan Police. He sped off before both victims were taken to hospital.

Detectives have now released an e-fit of the suspect in the apparent road rage incident that took place in the Thornton Heath area six weeks ago.

“Luckily, neither victim suffered any long-term damage, however they have been left extremely shaken by this ordeal, and we are committed to pursuing every viable lead to bring the perpetrator to justice," said detective constable Ben Briselden.

“I am very keen to hear from anyone who might have been in or around the area of the attack at 11.30am on Monday, 8 April and could be a potential witness.”

The suspect drove off from the scene of the attack along County Road before turning right onto Norbury Avenue, police said.

The London Ambulance Service took the victims to south London hospital, where their injuries were deemed non-life threatening.

The London Fire Brigade, also called out to the scene, concluded that the substance thrown at the pair was sulphuric acid.

Detectives are now appealing for anyone who may have been in the area at the time to review any CCTV or dashcam footage they may hold that could help with their investigation.

“The victims have described the suspect as a white man, around 40 years old of chubby build, with ginger/grey hair and beard, and brown eyes,” said a police spokesperson. “At the time of the offence, he was wearing a black jumper.”

Anyone who has any footage or information that they believe could help with the investigation is asked to call police on 101 and quote CAD 2677/09APR.