Two arrested after spate of acid attacks in Lancashire

Lancashire Police said the arrests were made after the force responded to a number of assaults over the weekend where corrosive substances, such as ammonia, had been used as weapons.

On Friday (February 12), a 23-year-old man was arrested after a stop-search in the Westgate area of Morecambe, with officers seizing a Lucozade bottle filled with ammonia.

The man, from Salford, has been charged with possession of an offensive weapon and possession of cannabis. He is due to appear at Lancaster Magistrates' Court today (Monday, February 15).

A 21-year-old Morecambe woman has also been arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon in relation to an "acid attack", as well as suspicion of money laundering. She has been released under investigation, say police.

Officers say the arrests were in response to a number of calls about assaults in the area where corrosive substances have been sprayed. They say the attacks are believed to be targeted and do not pose a threat to the wider public.

Police have said those found using acid as a weapon will be "robustly dealt with".

PC Georgie Abram, of Lancaster and Morecambe Neighbourhood Task Force, said: "There has recently been several reports in the Lancaster and Morecambe area of assaults involving the spraying of corrosive substances.

"Whilst we would like to reassure the good people of Lancaster and Morecambe that we do not believe there is a threat to the wider public, we would like to send a clear message to those who are carrying and using such weapons that they will be targeted and robustly dealt with."