Three men throw noxious substance on paramedic answering 999 call in 'premeditated attack'
More than 400 acid or corrosive substance attacks were carried out in six months to April 2017
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A paramedic had a noxious substance thrown in her face while answering a 999 call, the London Ambulance Service has said.
Three men flagged down the 32-year-old emergency services worker as she was on her way to help a man with chest pain in Tottenham, north-east London.
She stopped to check if the men were OK, as they appeared to be in distress.
But as she approached them, the men pulled bandanas over their faces and then threw liquid at her from a plastic bottle in what appeared to be a “premeditated” attack.
“It was horrible. I didn’t know what was going to happen to me,” said the unnamed paramedic.
“It all happened very quickly – one of them threw liquid out of a plastic bottle at me. The window was only open a few inches but the liquid went on my face, neck and chest.
“He was wearing latex gloves, so my first thought was, is this acid?”
Peter Rhodes, the London Ambulance Service’s assistant director of operations, said he was “appalled” by the incident, which took place at 1.30am on Sunday morning.
The paramedic was taken to hospital and later discharged, as the liquid – which was not acid but another noxious substance – had caused irritation to her skin.
“It was terrifying. This was so cowardly. It is my job to help people. I was on my way to help a patient and I stopped because I am caring and I thought they needed my help,” she said.
“What they’ve done is horrific in so many ways. It was premeditated and it delayed a patient getting treatment. It took a paramedic off the road that night. And yet if one my attackers were hurt, I would still treat them because that is the job.”
Campaigners are calling for new laws to make it more difficult for people to buy corrosive substances, which are sold as common cleaning products.
More than 400 acid or corrosive substance attacks were carried out in six months to April 2017, according to 39 police forces in England and Wales.
A 16-year-old accused of carrying out five similar attacks in the space of 90 minutes last Thursday night is facing trial after being charged with 15 offences.
These include one count of possession of an item to discharge a noxious substance, three counts of robbery and one count of GBH with intent.
Although it is legal to buy a corrosive substance, possession of acid or similar liquids with the intent to cause harm can be treated as possession of an offensive weapon under the Prevention of Crime Act, with a maximum penalty of four years.
Mr Rhodes said the incident has been reported to the police and the ambulance service “will do everything in our power to make sure those responsible are identified and convicted for this senseless attack”.
“I am appalled by this attack on our paramedic who stopped to help these men who she believed were in trouble, but instead they assaulted her in a premeditated attack, not only harming her but delaying treatment to a potentially critically ill patient,” he said.
“While this type of situation is thankfully very rare, we are reminding medics they should be mindful of the potential risk and be cautious in similar situations.
“Naturally we are doing everything we can to support the paramedic who is understandably distressed by this incident. We encourage our staff to report violent incidents and do everything we can to give our crews a sense of safety at work.”
Anyone with information concerning the attack has been asked to call the police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.