Video caption: 'Suspected offender known to the victims' - Met Police commissioner'Suspected offender known to the victims' - Met Police commissioner
Here's a chance to watch back Met Police chief Sir Mark Rowley in conversation with BBC Radio London's Eddie Nestor.
Continue listening to Sir Mark Rowley
The conversation between Rowley, of the Met, and the BBC's Eddie Nestor has moved on to wider issues now - including hate crimes and the policing of protests.
He may well say more about last night's attack, we'll be listening in to see if he does.
Mark Rowley's discussing details of the attack, and confirms that there were 12 people injured.
He says the attack itself, as we've reported, targeted a woman and her two young daughters.
There were four members of the public involved, who tried to help; three of whom went to hospital for treatment and one who declined. Plus there were five police officers involved in helping. None of them have had to stay in hospital, he says.
Rowley also says that this attack doesn't appear to have been random. He says he understands concerns, but that this appears to have been a targeted attack between two people "known to each other".
There are no suggestions it has anything to do with terrorism, the Met chief adds.
'Horrific for the woman and her daughters'
BBCCopyright: BBC
Rowley says this is "horrific" for the woman and her daughters.
He says he thinks some of the burns are "quite substantial" but he doesn't have the full picture yet.
It's a "difficult, difficult moment" for London, he says, and he wishes the family well.
Rowley condemns 'ghastly' attack
The BBC's Eddie Nestor begins today's session with Mark Rowley by asking him to give an overview of last night's attack.
Rowley says attacks using "chemicals" or "acid" are "exceedingly rare" in the capital - though he acknowledges there was a spate of them some years ago.
He also says there's a "live" police manhunt under way to find the man suspected of committing this "ghastly" attack.
A reminder that you can stream their conversation live by tapping Play at the top of this page.
Met chief coming up on BBC Radio London
BBCCopyright: BBC
We're due to hear from the Metropolitan Police's Commissioner Mark Rowley in a few minutes.
He'll be taking as part of his regular appearance on BBC Radio London, in which he discusses his force's policing of the capital.
You'll be able to tune in live by tapping the Play button at the top of this page.
What we know so far
A 31-year-old woman and her daughters - aged eight and three - were doused with an alkaline substance on Wednesday evening in an attack in Clapham, south London
Police believe the woman knows the attacker
The injuries to the woman and the younger girl "could be life-changing", Scotland Yard added
Witnesses said one of the girls was dragged out of a car by the attacker before he threw the substance. The mother said "I can't see, I can't see" after the attack
Four bystanders were injured when they tried to help. Three of them went to hospital and have now been discharged. The fourth declined hospital treatment for his minor injuries.
Five police officers also suffered minor injuries and have left hospital
Police have launched a manhunt and are asking anyone with information to call 999
.Copyright: .
The attack happened on a residential street to the east of Clapham CommonImage caption: The attack happened on a residential street to the east of Clapham Common
Pictured: Forensic experts search car
SuppliedCopyright: Supplied
Here's another image that's been provided to us from a woman named Zoe on Lessar Avenue - showing forensic experts examining the scene.
A lot of people who live here on Lessar Avenue (where the attack took place) woke up this morning and were unsurprisingly shocked at what has happened.
We're very close to Clapham Common - it's one of south-west London's biggest and best-known parks.
It's a very busy thoroughfare for something like this to happen at 19:30 in the evening when a lot of people would've been around.
Safe to say the focus in this case now is the manhunt, as police try to find where the suspect is.
Watch: Forensics teams at scene of Clapham attack
Video content
Video caption: Clapham attack: Forensics teams at scene in protective gearClapham attack: Forensics teams at scene in protective gear
Here's some footage of the forensic team at work overnight.
Some key points from the police update
Here's a bit more from that statement, issued by the Met's Superintendent Gabriel Cameron, about last night's "corrosive substance" attack:
The targeted victims were a woman, aged 31, and her two daughters, aged eight and three. They all remain in hospital
While none of their conditions are life-threatening, the injuries to the woman and younger girl could be life-changing, police say
Three women - two in their 30s and one in her 50s - were injured when they tried to help. They've all been discharged from hospital with minor burn injuries
Five officers who were injured as they responded have also been treated and have left hospital
A man in his 50s, who also helped, declined hospital treatment for minor injuries that he suffered
On the attack itself, Supt Cameron gave the following update:
Initial reports to police were that a man, the suspect, had thrown a child to the ground and that a substance - now known to be alkaline - had been thrown
The man attempted to make off in a car but collided with a stationary vehicle, and then made off on foot, in the direction of Clapham Common
A manhunt is under way to find him
"We believe the man and woman are known to each other," police add. "Our investigation is in its early stages and we are working to establish why this awful incident has happened"
He also asks any members of the public who saw what happened to help by calling 101, quoting reference CAD 7790/31Jan, and urges local people and drivers to check their doorbell and dash cameras for any footage that might have captured a man fleeing the area.
Mum and daughter could have 'life-changing' injuries - police
None of the injuries suffered by the attack victims are considered life-threatening, police say, although injuries to the mum and her younger daughter "could be life-changing".
We'll have a longer list of bullet points from the statement for you shortly.
Victim thought to have known attacker
The police also say in their update: "We believe the man and woman are known to each other.
"Our investigation is in its early stages and we are working to establish why this awful incident has happened."
A "manhunt" is under way, the statement adds.
BreakingPolice give updates on 'corrosive substance' attack
London's Met Police have just given a statement in which they've confirmed that the "corrosive substance" used in the attack was alkaline.
We'll bring you more details shortly.
'I can't see, I can't see'
We've been hearing from local people who saw what happened.
"The mum was saying 'I can't see, I can't see', a woman living nearby told the BBC. "And I realised she had acid on her face."
(A reminder that police are yet to confirm which substance was used in the attack and are running tests.)
Another witness said "I ran inside to get some water and started spraying water on her."
Pictures from the scene
Here are some images from early this morning of the road where this attack took place last night - Lessar Avenue in Clapham, south London.
The road has now been opened but before then, there were police officers and forensic workers at the scene, gathering evidence.
The suspect remains at large and there is a manhunt under way.
PA MediaCopyright: PA Media
Uniformed Met Police officers at the scene, with a cordon protecting the area around the car in which the substance was thrownImage caption: Uniformed Met Police officers at the scene, with a cordon protecting the area around the car in which the substance was thrown
PA MediaCopyright: PA Media
This is the car in which a mother and two girls were doused with the as-yet unidentified "corrosive substance"Image caption: This is the car in which a mother and two girls were doused with the as-yet unidentified "corrosive substance"
pa mCopyright: pa m
The road where this happened, Lessar Avenue, has Clapham Common at one end of it (on the other side of the busy road pictured here)Image caption: The road where this happened, Lessar Avenue, has Clapham Common at one end of it (on the other side of the busy road pictured here)
PA MediaCopyright: PA Media
Forensic workers were seen photographing the scene - one of their evidence-gathering dutiesImage caption: Forensic workers were seen photographing the scene - one of their evidence-gathering duties
Throughout the night, specialist forensic teams in protective clothing examined a white car on a tree-lined street, moments from Clapham Common.
It was at around 19:30 GMT yesterday evening, that officers were called to the area after a woman and her two young girls were doused in their car with what police said was a "corrosive substance".
There were reports the suspect had argued with the woman in the moments before the attack. Three of the passers-by who tried to intervene were injured and taken to hospital, while three police officers suffered minor injuries.
Tests are continuing to determine what substance was used in the attack.
'Total disbelief and shock': Local politicians react
PA MediaCopyright: PA Media
Police near the scene of the attack early on Thursday morningImage caption: Police near the scene of the attack early on Thursday morning
We also heard from Marina Ahmad - Labour London Assembly member for Lambeth and Southwark - who said a man had assaulted occupants in a car.
A joint statement by local Clapham Common councillors Alison Inglis-Jones and Ben Curtis said they and the wider community were "in total disbelief and shock" at what had happened.
Local MP urges witnesses to report 'acid attack'
Labour MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy has appealed for witnesses to contact the police following what she described as an "acid attack" in her constituency.
Ribeiro-Addy- who is the local MP for Streatham and represents constituents of Lessar Avenue where the attack took place - posted on social media that she was "very concerned" to learn what had taken place.
The MP also discouraged visiting the area in order to allow emergency services to operate.
The police have described the attack as being with a "corrosive substance" and have yet to determine if the chemical used was acid.
What is a corrosive substance?
Police say tests are ongoing to identify the exact substance used.
The Home Office defines a corrosive substance as a "weapon" which can cause significant harm and life-changing injuries.
It is a "substance capable of
burning human skin by corrosion".
Some of the substances defined as corrosive products are commonly used in products such as high strength drain cleaners/unblockers, paint strippers, cleaning
products, rust or limescale removers.
Corrosive substances may contain chemicals including ammonium hydroxide, hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide.
Live Reporting
All times stated are UK
Watch: 'Such attacks are exceedingly rare'
Video content
Here's a chance to watch back Met Police chief Sir Mark Rowley in conversation with BBC Radio London's Eddie Nestor.
Continue listening to Sir Mark Rowley
The conversation between Rowley, of the Met, and the BBC's Eddie Nestor has moved on to wider issues now - including hate crimes and the policing of protests.
He may well say more about last night's attack, we'll be listening in to see if he does.
For now, though, if you want to continue listening to that conversation you can do so on BBC Radio London or via the BBC Sounds app. Or follow the dedicated text live page run by the London team.
Rowley confirms 12 hurt in incident
Mark Rowley's discussing details of the attack, and confirms that there were 12 people injured.
He says the attack itself, as we've reported, targeted a woman and her two young daughters.
There were four members of the public involved, who tried to help; three of whom went to hospital for treatment and one who declined. Plus there were five police officers involved in helping. None of them have had to stay in hospital, he says.
Rowley also says that this attack doesn't appear to have been random. He says he understands concerns, but that this appears to have been a targeted attack between two people "known to each other".
There are no suggestions it has anything to do with terrorism, the Met chief adds.
'Horrific for the woman and her daughters'
Rowley says this is "horrific" for the woman and her daughters.
He says he thinks some of the burns are "quite substantial" but he doesn't have the full picture yet.
It's a "difficult, difficult moment" for London, he says, and he wishes the family well.
Rowley condemns 'ghastly' attack
The BBC's Eddie Nestor begins today's session with Mark Rowley by asking him to give an overview of last night's attack.
Rowley says attacks using "chemicals" or "acid" are "exceedingly rare" in the capital - though he acknowledges there was a spate of them some years ago.
He also says there's a "live" police manhunt under way to find the man suspected of committing this "ghastly" attack.
A reminder that you can stream their conversation live by tapping Play at the top of this page.
Met chief coming up on BBC Radio London
We're due to hear from the Metropolitan Police's Commissioner Mark Rowley in a few minutes.
He'll be taking as part of his regular appearance on BBC Radio London, in which he discusses his force's policing of the capital.
You'll be able to tune in live by tapping the Play button at the top of this page.
What we know so far
Pictured: Forensic experts search car
Here's another image that's been provided to us from a woman named Zoe on Lessar Avenue - showing forensic experts examining the scene.
A busy area for something like this to happen
Rajini Vaidyanathan
Reporting from Clapham, south London
A lot of people who live here on Lessar Avenue (where the attack took place) woke up this morning and were unsurprisingly shocked at what has happened.
We're very close to Clapham Common - it's one of south-west London's biggest and best-known parks.
It's a very busy thoroughfare for something like this to happen at 19:30 in the evening when a lot of people would've been around.
Safe to say the focus in this case now is the manhunt, as police try to find where the suspect is.
Watch: Forensics teams at scene of Clapham attack
Video content
Here's some footage of the forensic team at work overnight.
Some key points from the police update
Here's a bit more from that statement, issued by the Met's Superintendent Gabriel Cameron, about last night's "corrosive substance" attack:
On the attack itself, Supt Cameron gave the following update:
He also asks any members of the public who saw what happened to help by calling 101, quoting reference CAD 7790/31Jan, and urges local people and drivers to check their doorbell and dash cameras for any footage that might have captured a man fleeing the area.
Mum and daughter could have 'life-changing' injuries - police
None of the injuries suffered by the attack victims are considered life-threatening, police say, although injuries to the mum and her younger daughter "could be life-changing".
We'll have a longer list of bullet points from the statement for you shortly.
Victim thought to have known attacker
The police also say in their update: "We believe the man and woman are known to each other.
"Our investigation is in its early stages and we are working to establish why this awful incident has happened."
A "manhunt" is under way, the statement adds.
BreakingPolice give updates on 'corrosive substance' attack
London's Met Police have just given a statement in which they've confirmed that the "corrosive substance" used in the attack was alkaline.
We'll bring you more details shortly.
'I can't see, I can't see'
We've been hearing from local people who saw what happened.
"The mum was saying 'I can't see, I can't see', a woman living nearby told the BBC. "And I realised she had acid on her face."
(A reminder that police are yet to confirm which substance was used in the attack and are running tests.)
Another witness said "I ran inside to get some water and started spraying water on her."
Pictures from the scene
Here are some images from early this morning of the road where this attack took place last night - Lessar Avenue in Clapham, south London.
The road has now been opened but before then, there were police officers and forensic workers at the scene, gathering evidence.
The suspect remains at large and there is a manhunt under way.
Suspect reportedly argued with victim
Rajini Vaidyanathan
Reporting from Clapham, south London
Throughout the night, specialist forensic teams in protective clothing examined a white car on a tree-lined street, moments from Clapham Common.
It was at around 19:30 GMT yesterday evening, that officers were called to the area after a woman and her two young girls were doused in their car with what police said was a "corrosive substance".
There were reports the suspect had argued with the woman in the moments before the attack. Three of the passers-by who tried to intervene were injured and taken to hospital, while three police officers suffered minor injuries.
Tests are continuing to determine what substance was used in the attack.
'Total disbelief and shock': Local politicians react
We also heard from Marina Ahmad - Labour London Assembly member for Lambeth and Southwark - who said a man had assaulted occupants in a car.
A joint statement by local Clapham Common councillors Alison Inglis-Jones and Ben Curtis said they and the wider community were "in total disbelief and shock" at what had happened.
Local MP urges witnesses to report 'acid attack'
Labour MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy has appealed for witnesses to contact the police following what she described as an "acid attack" in her constituency.
Ribeiro-Addy- who is the local MP for Streatham and represents constituents of Lessar Avenue where the attack took place - posted on social media that she was "very concerned" to learn what had taken place.
The MP also discouraged visiting the area in order to allow emergency services to operate.
The police have described the attack as being with a "corrosive substance" and have yet to determine if the chemical used was acid.
What is a corrosive substance?
Police say tests are ongoing to identify the exact substance used.
The Home Office defines a corrosive substance as a "weapon" which can cause significant harm and life-changing injuries.
It is a "substance capable of burning human skin by corrosion".
Some of the substances defined as corrosive products are commonly used in products such as high strength drain cleaners/unblockers, paint strippers, cleaning products, rust or limescale removers.
Corrosive substances may contain chemicals including ammonium hydroxide, hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide.