Acid attack victim concerned over rise in incidents
West Yorkshire Police reported a rise in people injured with harmful substances
A former Leeds student is worried that more people are using harmful substances, that are readily available in the home, to carry out malicious attacks.
Benn Moore was leaving a nightclub in London when he was sprayed in the face with a bottle of bleach.
He suffered burns to the eyes and feared he may lose his sight. However, he was told the bleach would cause no permanent damage.
“I initially thought that it was acid. I was fully convinced that may face was going to be horrendously scarred. It was a massive worry for me.”
“I remember being in the ambulance and laughing. The hospital staff were confused as to why, and it was purely out of relief”.
Benn spoke to Radio Aire following the latest set of figures released from West Yorkshire Police who have recorded five assaults took place in 2015 in which people were injured with harmful substances. This compares with two in 2014 and eight in 2013.
Substances used include acid, bleach, petrol, methyl ethyl ketone and hydrochloric acid.
Benn became caught up in what's thought to have been a homophobic attack as he left the club in the early hours of the morning on the 8th June 2014.
Following the attack, Benn is now working with charities to help people who have been through similar incidents.
“It’s worrying that people are not only going out to hurt someone and to attack someone, but also that they’re doing it with substances that are readily available in the home and there’s preconceived motions. They’re thinking about it beforehand, it’s so calculated”
“People are leaving their houses and prior to doing so they’re filling bottles with acids that they know will cause serious, serious damage”.