A shopkeeper has told how two teenagers raced into his East London off licence and screamed 'We've got acid on us!' as their skin was 'peeling off'. 

The man, who has asked not to be named, recalled the terrifying incident where two men were targeted with a 'noxious substance', which a police officer described as 'bleach', in Roman Road, Bethnal Green, at around 7pm this evening.

The attack comes after five people were left injured after having acid thrown in their faces in North and East London on July 13. Another person was injured in connection with the incident. The shopkeeper told the Mail Online: 'They were two Bengali boys who came into the shop. They had acid on their face and they were burning - their skin was peeling off.  'The ambulance caller was asking a lot of questions about it but what do I do - deal with the call or the water?

'I've never seen anything like this before. It's really scary.

'I think the boys had been attacked elsewhere and then got in their car and drove here to get water. Their car was outside.

'Their face and their legs were all burnt. One of them was saying: "Put the water in my jeans". 

Witnesses said a blue tarpaulin has been erected to shield the victims from the public.

Four fire engines, police and paramedics are at the scene, which was cordoned off. 

Footage posted online by Mr Lennon shows a topless man pouring water on to his face as he is surrounded by five paramedics as a policeman watches on.

Another man is seen sitting on the pavement as he has his blood pressure taken by the medics. Please click, comment, sibscribe to our blog