Police in London
The attack happened back in January 2019, but following a Crimewatch appeal, Police have released footage of the men they are looking to speak to in connection with the incident.
In total, four people were assaulted with what is thought to be a corrosive substance spray. Detectives are treating the incidents as linked.
The footage, taken from a KFC on Brixton Road, SW9, shows five males police would like to speak to in connection with both incidents.
According to police reports, the attacks happened on Saturday, 19 January, with the first taking place at around 04:00hrs inside a KFC where a corrosive spray was used on two male victims.
The second attack happened just 20 minutes later at a bus stop close to the KFC where the CCTV footage was taken.
The two 22-year-old victims told police at the scene that they had been sprayed by an unknown noxious substance, thought to be a type of pepper spray, in what appears to be a hate crime attack.
Detectives from the South Area Command Unit are continuing to appeal for both victims of the first incident to make themselves known to police to give their account of the assault, and assist with enquiries.
Suspect [1] is described as a black male, wearing a black beanie, grey tracksuit, with dark elbow patches and a gilet-type jacket.
The second suspect [2] is described as a light-skinned black male with a ‘chin strap’ beard and of a tall muscular build.
The third male [3] is a black male who had his hood up, the top had white scribbles on it.
Another suspect [4] was seen wearing a dark navy tracksuit with multiple white stripes on the legs.
The final suspect [5] was a black male and of a larger build than the other men, with curly, short hair, green tracksuit trousers and a black puffa-style jacket.
Detective Constable Amy Cross, of Lambeth CID, the lead investigator on this case, said, “This was a completely unprovoked and targeted attack on at least two members of the public, with a further two victims not yet in contact with police.
“Both the attack and the homophobic motivation of this assault are abhorrent, and I appeal to anyone with any information that could assist the investigation to come forward.”
Anyone with information is asked to conduct Lambeth CID by dialling 101 and quoting reference CAD 1206/19JAN19.