- Victim was walking through a crowded pub when substance was thrown on her
- Were you in the pub? Email: [email protected]
A 52-year-old woman has been left with burns after a ‘substance attack’ inside a pub – as police launch manhunt.
The horrific incident took place in the Golden Lion pub in Jay’s Close, Basingstoke between 9.30pm and 10pm on Saturday.
The woman was left ‘extremely distressed’ by what happened to her and she suffered reddening to her skin, blisters, and had to have most of her hair cut off due to the matting.
The woman was walking through the pub when the mystery substance was thrown on her hair and back which caused a burning sensation on her skin and caused her hair to matt.
Police are trying to establish what the substance used in the attack was.
The horrific incident took place in the Golden Lion pub in Jay’s Close, Basingstoke between 9.30pm and 10pm on Saturday
A map of where the pub is where the horrifying attack took place
Were you in the pub? Email: [email protected]
Two men, aged 48 and 53, both from Basingstoke, have been arrested on suspicion of attempted grievous bodily harm with intent. They have both been released on bail until May 10.
A spokesman for Hampshire Constabulary said: ‘Officers are appealing for information after a woman sustained injuries when a substance was thrown at her in Basingstoke.
‘As the woman walked through the pub she had a substance thrown in her hair and on her back. The substance caused a burning sensation to her skin and for her hair to matt. Work is ongoing to establish what the substance is but it is not thought to be acid.
‘There was a band playing in the pub at the time of the incident and it was very crowded.
‘The woman was wearing a leopard print top. Did you see her, or did you witness the incident?
‘Did you take any photos or video footage while you were there? You may have caught the incident on your camera.
‘The woman has been left extremely distressed by what happened to her. She has suffered reddening to her skin, blisters and had to have most of her hair cut off due to the matting.’
The terrifying attack comes amid a sharp rise in acid attacks, with the number of attacks increasing by 45 per cent last year in London and a staggering 69 per cent across England and Wales, according to the Acid Survivors Trust International (Asti) charity.
Abdul Ezedi was last seen leaving Tower Hill underground station in east London at 9.33pm on January 31
A police boat is seen on the Thames on Saturday as officers search for the body of Ezedi
And charities say female acid attack victims are not being taken seriously by police and do not feel safe going out at night amid a rise in chemical attacks by abusive boyfriends in Britain.
The highest profile acid attack recently occurred in Clapman, London on January 31 and police are still searching for suspect Abdul Ezedi in the case.
Police have been searching for his body in the Thames as CCTV footage suggests he may have jumped in on the night of the attack.
Ezedi left a mother and two young girls needing hospital treatment after he doused them in a strong alkali substance. It is believed Ezedi and the woman were in a relationship.
Were you in the pub? Email: [email protected]
