Five sprayed in face with acid by duo on a moped

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Emergency response following the acid attack on the junction of Hackney Road junction with Queensbridge Road, London. Photo: Reuters

Following five acid attacks in London, two teenage boys have been arrested after two male suspects riding a moped targeted victims during a 90-minute spree.

The Metropolitan Police said one victim had been left with "life-changing" injuries after being doused on Thursday night in the east of the capital.

The assaults appeared to be linked and two involved victims having their mopeds stolen, it added.

A 16-year-old youth is being held at an east London police station after being arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and robbery. A 15-year-old boy was later arrested at an address in Stoke Newington on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and robbery.

Cressida Dick, head of Scotland Yard, branded such attacks as "completely barbaric", telling LBC: "The acid can cause horrendous injuries; the ones last night involved a series of robberies we believe are linked - I am glad to see we have arrested somebody."

The attacks have sparked calls for tougher and more consistent sentences for those found guilty of acid attacks.

Former UK minister Stephen Timms said carrying acid should be made an offence and suggested licensing the purchase of sulphuric acid as he urged a change in sentencing guidelines.

At the start of the rampage, a 32-year-old moped driver had been approached by the pair as he drove towards the Hackney Road junction with Queensbridge Road.

The two male suspects had tossed the noxious substance into his face before one of them jumped on to his vehicle and drove away.

One witness saw police dousing the victim with large bottles of water.

Little more than 20 minutes later, at around 10.50pm, another victim had been sprayed with searing liquid by the pair on the Upper Street junction with Highbury Corner, Islington.

Then, at around 11.05pm, the fast-moving attackers swooped on a man in Shoreditch High Street, tossing the substance in his face. Within 15 minutes, they appeared to have struck again, launching their corrosive load at a man on Cazenove Road and causing "life-changing" facial injuries.

The final assault of the night was reported to police at 11.37pm, when another man was confronted as he sat on his moped in traffic on Chatsworth Road. After again spraying the liquid in a victim's face, the moped was stolen and both attackers fled.