Feud between Eastern European migrant workers may have triggered attack on 3 year old

A FEUD between Eastern European migrant workers may have triggered the acid attack on a three-year-old boy.

Cops said CCTV captured a “pink chemical” being thrown into his face as his mum pushed him in a pram.

Three men were arrested early yesterday and another is still in custody. The mum and boy were under police protection last night.

It is understood the dispute may have started with the end of a relationship involving the mum.

Chief Supt Mark Travis said officers were keeping an “open mind” about a motive for Saturday’s attack at a discount shop in Worcester. But he revealed: “This is not the way to resolve issues and disputes in communities.”

One local said there had been “bad blood” in the Eastern European community because of an alleged insult. Three men aged 22, 25 and 26 were held yesterday in Walthamstow, East London, on suspicion of conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm.

Neighbours said they are from a brawling gypsy community. One said: “Two were bare-knuckle boxing in the street.”

A 39-year-old man from Wolverhampton who was arrested on Sunday is still being quizzed.

Nick Carson, of West Midlands Ambulance Service said : “It’s horrific, absolutely horrific.

“We had no inkling or reason to suspect that it was an acid attack, we just thought that maybe he’d come into contact with some sort of chemical.

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“But to find out that afterwards that that was the case, it’s shocking.

“The fluid that I saw was pink in colour. It had quite a strong smell, no bleach or acidy type smell but it was an astringent kind of smell.

"It just smelt like a chemical really."

The boy suffered burns to his face and left arm.