A takeaway delivery driver had a corrosive substance squirted in his face by an attacker who demanded money in east London.
Detectives have released CCTV in an appeal for information after the acid attack outside a residential address in Dane Place, Bow, which resulted in the 21-year-old victim suffering burns to his face.
The incident happened at around 6.20pm on Tuesday May 2 when the victim, a delivery driver of a nearby takeaway, entered details into a sat-nav in his car and the suspect approached him on a pedal cycle and demanded money, Scotland Yard said.
When the victim said that he did not have any, he was squirted in the face with a chemical that smelt of ammonia.
Police said the suspect tried to open the locked driver’s door and eventually got in through the passenger’s seat as the victim tried to wipe the substance off his face.
The suspect then cycled off as the driver ran into the nearby takeaway and called police.
The attack was filmed by a nearby CCTV camera in Dane Place, Bow (Met Police/PA)
Detective Constable Paul Clare, the officer in the case from Tower Hamlets CID, said: “This was a horrible assault on a takeaway delivery driver in the early evening.
“Witnesses were in the area and saw the assault. We are asking them to come forward and help us with our inquiries.”
The suspect is described as a white youth who was wearing a black hooded top, blue jeans, black shoes and a grey/green snood. He was on a black hybrid cycle.
Anyone who can help the investigation is asked to contact Tower Hamlets CID via 101 or by tweeting @MetCC, and to give information anonymously people can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or go to crimestoppers-uk.org.