Story highlights Acid attacks are on the rise in London, according to a report released by the police

Police said at least four of the five attacks involved two males on a moped

London (CNN) Five men were attacked with acid in London, with one man suffering life-changing facial injuries in what police on Friday were treating as linked assaults. "Two assailants on a moped pulled up alongside a 32-year-old man in the Hackney area of east London [9:24 p.m. local time] on Thursday and threw acid in his face before one of the pair made off with the victim's moped. Police were called to the first acid attack at 2125 GMT yesterday, followed by four other incidents within the following hour and a half all in the east London area, which police said they were treating as linked. LONDON — Five men were attacked with acid in London on Thursday night with one man suffering life-changing facial injuries in what police are treating as linked assaults. Police said the latest attacks were linked and were questioning the teenager at an east London police station on suspicion of robbery and causing grievous bodily harm. The number of reported attacks with corrosive liquids rose from 261 in 2015 to 454 in 2016, according to police, with some appearing to be related to gang activity or the theft of cars and motorbikes. Metropolitan Police Chief Cressida Dick, speaking in a radio interview, condemned the attacks as "barbaric" and described the injuries that result from them as "horrendous."
Five men in London are attacked with acid in five linked attacks. Two teenaged suspects are taken into custody.