Girl, 14, suffers ‘life-changing injuries’ after acid attack at Westminster school

An acid attack at a Westminster school has left a 14-year-old girl with ‘life-changing’ injuries and two others in hospital’.

The ‘acidic’ substance was allegedly thrown at students and a teacher outside Westminster Academy at about 4.40pm yesterday.

An employee flagged down police officers after the incident along Alfred Road, Westbourne Park.

The suspect remains on the run and tests are being conducted on the substance.

A boy, 16, remains in the hospital with non-life-changing injuries, and a woman, 27, has since been discharged.

Two police officers who attended and felt unwell have also been taken to hospital as a precaution.

A blog post on the school’s website says the site is closed today.

‘Due to unforeseen circumstances, the WA school site will be closed on Tuesday 1st October,’ the post says.

‘Students will resume lessons through online learning. Information will be shared with them via Google Classroom through their teachers. Thank you for your understanding.’

Westminster Academy is a non-selective academy and sixth form. A planned Year Six open morning due to take place today was rescheduled.

The police said: ‘Tests of the substance are ongoing. At this stage officers believe it to be acidic.

‘Urgent enquiries are underway to identify and arrest those responsible. A number of crime scenes are in place.’

Adam Hug, leader of Westminster City Council, said: ‘This is a truly shocking attack on school pupils and a member of staff.

‘The council has been in touch with Westminster Academy and we will provide educational psychologists and any other support to help children through what is a traumatic ordeal. Our thoughts are with all those who have been affected.

‘Clearly, this attack will be unsettling for the whole academy and the wider community, and we will be working with police to provide reassurance and whatever support we can. We would urge anyone with information about what has happened to contact the police.’

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