A 47-year-old woman has today suffered serious injuries after acid was thrown in her face by a thug riding a moped or pushbike.
Cops said the woman was deliberately targeted as she walked along a street in Birmingham at 10:30am this morning.
Paramedics were called to a street three miles from where the attack took place and found she had suffered "serious chemical burns to her face".
She was given pain relief and her face was "fully irrigated with water" as medics desperately tried to remove the unknown substance.
A witness described hearing the woman screaming in agony.
The resident, who didn’t want to be named, said: “I heard a woman screaming. At first I thought it was a dog that had been hit by a car because it sounded like something howling in pain.
“It was so loud but I didn’t see anything. Since finding out it was a woman who was hit with acid makes me really nervous about living here."
Other locals told how firefighters hosed down a house with water while she was treated.
One woman, who lives opposite the house, said: "It was crazy, police and an ambulance crew turn up at the road.
"They went into the property and treated the woman.
"No one on the road really knew what was going on - it was very worrying."
Another neighbour said: "I saw the police and ambulances outside the home.
"They were even hosing down the property.
"The police ask for anyone on the road with CCTV.
"When I found out the woman might have been attack with acid, I was panicky.
"The people/person who did this is still out there - that's a scary thought."
Another neighbour said: "I was at work but my son saw the emergency services.
"I've only found out what's happened - I can't believe it.
"They seem to keep themselves to themselves.
"Not much really happens on this road that's why it's so shocking."
The victim was then rushed to hospital following the incident in Smethwick.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: "We were called to Astbury Avenue, Smethwick shortly before 10.30am today.
"An ambulance, a paramedic officer, the Trust’s Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) and a Critical Care Car from Midlands Air Ambulance responded to the scene
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"Crews arrived to find a woman, in her 40s, who had suffered serious chemical burns to her face following an attack which is believed to have taken place in the vicinity of Northbrook Street in Ladywood.
"The woman was given pain relief to help ease her discomfort whilst her face was fully irrigated with water to help remove the unknown substance.
"She was then transferred by land ambulance on blue lights to hospital for further specialist burns treatment."
West Midlands Police are appealing for witnesses to call 101 and quote log number 772 on July 24.
The force added that it is not linked to the acid attack on a three-year-old boy in Worcester on Saturday.
The toddler was sat in a pram in a Home Bargains store when the substance was thrown in his direction.
He was treated for serious burns to his face and arm and witnesses described seeing a woman crying after the horrific incident.
Three men were arrested early yesterday and another is still in custody. The mum and boy were under police protection last night.
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