AS POLICE continue to search for three men in connection with a suspected acid attack on a three-year-old boy, Worcester has been left stunned by the incident.

The wounded boy was taken to hospital with serious burns to his arms and face after he was injured in Home Bargains, on Shrub Hill Retail Park, Tallow Hill, Worcester, at 2.15pm on Saturday.

A 39-year-old man, from Wolverhampton, has been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm.

Police have now released images of three men that they wish to speak to in relation to the suspected attack.

Chief Superintendent Mark Travis said: "At this time we are treating this as a deliberate attack on a three-year-old boy.

"The incident will rightly shock the local community and I would like to reassure local people that we are carrying out a thorough investigation to identify those responsible.

"At this time, the motive for the attack is unclear. Officers are working hard to establish exactly what happened and what the substance involved was.

"The three men in the photo may have information vital to our investigation. I am sure someone will recognise them and I would urge anyone with information to contact us as a matter of urgency."

Home Bargains shopper Barry Keville, aged 64, of Bromwich Road, Worcester, said: “It’s diabolical.

“You hear about it in other towns and cities, we think that’s not close to home but when it’s this close to home it’s quite frightening as you use the shop.

“You wonder what is going to happen next.”

Mr Neville, who was born-and-bred in Worcester, said he had never heard of anything similar happening in the city’s past.

Rachel Bryant, 22, said: “I’d been shopping with my mum and were heading to Home Bargains when there were loads of police and ambulances.

“I saw a woman crying and being comforted by police. I didn’t know what it was all about.

“When I heard about the little boy being attacked with acid I couldn’t believe it. I assume the woman I saw could have been his mum or relative.

“It’s horrendous to think something like this could happen to a little boy in the middle of a shop on a Saturday afternoon.”

Another shopper said she saw two police officers cordoning off an aisle in Home Bargains, following the suspected attack.

Dean Carey, a 22-year-old assistant manager at the store, said: “Events happened yesterday, police knew what happened and we are working with them.

“Everything is fine, everything is nice and safe for everyone, the staff are all fine. The incident happened but now we have moved on.”

The store’s area manager, who did not want to be named, added: “We put the health and safety of our staff and customers at the forefront before anything else.

“Police are still investigating and as far as we are concerned Home Bargains are assisting the police investigations.”

The employee said that the store reopened at around 11.40am this morning after receiving assurances from the police.

Robin Walker, MP for Worcester, described the incident as "horrific" and

urged anyone with information to phone the police.

He said: "The shock will be universal, anyone conducting such an attack on a small child is just appalling.

"It's an issue which rightly there has been a lot of concern in Parliament and a move to toughen sentences for any kind of acid attack.

"But particularly the nature of this being a small child is very concerning indeed.

"At this stage the key thing is for the police to act quickly and see if they can track down the perpetrator and understand what's behind it because it is an unthinkable thing to happen."

Worcester City Council leader Marc Bayliss said the suspected attack was "absolutely pure evil".

He added: "Worcester is not that sort of place. We are a quintessential

small English city.

"I have never heard of an acid attack in Worcester so this is absolutely

not something we have any experience of.

"We need to bring the perpetrators to justice, and quickly.

"Think if this was a member of your family, an innocent child, a three-year-old probably scarred or damaged for life by this."

Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service sent two fire engines from Worcester to the scene, along with a specialist equipment vehicle from Droitwich.

High-ranking fire station officers, including a hazardous material officer, also attended the incident.

The fire service was called to the shop at 3.30pm.

The man who has been arrested is still in custody.

Anyone with information about the incident, which took place at around 2.15pm, can ring the police on 999, quoting incident 442s of 21 July 2018.

Alternatively, people can provide information anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.