A teenage girl, along with another student and a staff member, was attacked outside their school in west London on Monday afternoon. It is believed that a substance, suspected to be acidic, was thrown at them. The Metropolitan Police were alerted to the incident when a staff member of Westminster Academy flagged them down. The attack occurred around 4:40 pm (BST).
The girl’s injuries from the attack are potentially life-changing, and she remains in hospital. Another victim, a 16-year-old boy, was hospitalized with non life-threatening injuries, while the staff member, a 27-year-old woman, has been discharged from the hospital. Two police officers were also taken to the hospital as a precautionary measure.
The police reported that they are conducting investigations and believe the substance to be acidic. It is unclear at this stage about the motive behind the attack, and it is unknown whether it was a targeted or random attack. Urgent enquiries are being carried out to identify and apprehend those responsible.
Due to the incident, Westminster Academy was closed following the attack, with online lessons offered to students, and most staff working from home. The school also cancelled a Year 6 open morning. Several crime scenes remain in place as the investigations continue.
The attack has left the students and staff at Westminster Academy devastated, with leaders from across the political spectrum condemning the attack. Prime Minister Boris Johnson called the attack “shocking”, while London Mayor Sadiq Khan promised that the perpetrators would be brought to justice. The police have urged anyone with information related to the attack to contact them urgently.
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