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Six injured in 'noxious substance' attack at London mall, one arrested

By Ben Hooper

Sept. 24 (UPI) -- Police in London have arrested a 15-year-old suspect after six people were injured by a "noxious substance" thrown during an altercation at a shopping mall.

The London Metropolitan Police said the Saturday evening incident at the Stratford Center mall in east London began as a fight between two groups of males and is not being treated as terrorism-related.

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"What initially may have been perceived as a number of random attacks has, on closer inspection, been found to be one incident involving two groups of males," police Chief Superintendent Ade Adelekan said.

The police department said six males were injured by suspected acid during the attack, but none of the injuries were considered life threatening.

"The first of our medics arrived within 10 minutes of the first emergency call and worked closely with our colleagues from the Metropolitan Police, British Transport Police and London Fire Brigade making sure patients received the medical help they needed as quickly as possible," London Ambulance Service spokesman Paul Gibson said. "We treated a total of six patients, three of whom were taken to London hospitals."

Gibson said the ambulance service's hazardous area response team was dispatched to the scene.

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Social media users captured photos and video of emergency responders investigating at the scene and treating injured parties.

Police said a 15-year-old suspect was arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm. He was taken to a police station in east London.

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