A 16-year-old boy is in police custody after five acid attacks in just more than an hour late on Thursday night (July 13).
Police believe all five east London attacks are linked, with four of the acid attacks being carried out by two men on a moped.
The first attack took place at around 10.25pm on the junction of Hackney Road and Queensbridge Road.
Two men on one moped pulled up to a 32-year-old man on a moped and threw a corrosive substance on his face.
One of the attackers stole the victim's moped while the other fled the scene on the moped he arrived on.
The first victim was taken to an east London hospital where his injuries are being treated as not life-threatening or life-changing.
The next attack was in Islington at 10.49pm when two men on a moped threw a corrosive substance on a 44-year-old man's face on the Upper Street junction with Highbury Corner.
He was taken to a north London hospital and his condition is not known at this time, police said.
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Another similar attack happened at 11.05pm that night in Shoreditch High Street, with two men on a moped riding up to a 52-year-old man and threw a corrosive liquid in his face.
This victim was also taken to hospital and his condition is not yet known.
At 11.18pm police were called to a robbery in Cazenove Road near Stoke Newington where a corrosive substance had been thrown.
Police officers found a 24-year-old man with facial inuries. He was taken to hospital and his injuries have been described as life-changing.
A crime scene is in place where the attack happened.
The final attack of the night happened in Chatsworth Road in Lower Clapton at 11.37pm, when a 33-year-old moped driver stuck in traffic had a corrosive substance sprayed in his face by two men on a moped.
They also stole his moped and made off, leaving him to walk home where he contacted the police.
He was taken to an east London hospital but has no life threatening or life changing injuries.
A police spokesman told getwestlondon that unlike some other recent acid attacks in east London, there is no indication that this was racially motivated.
A 16-year-old is currently in custody at an east London police station after being arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and robbery.
Hackney CID is investigating the incident and is asking anyone who may have witnessed one of the attacks or have information regarding them to contact police on 101 or via twitter at @MetCC.
Anyone with information can also call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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