Six people suffered from skin burns and peeling after they were attacked with sulfuric acid in New Jersey, authorities said.
The group was on Wilkinson Ave., a residential street in Jersey City, a city four miles west of New York City, when two people on a moped drove by their car and threw an acidic substance on them, Jersey City Mayor James Solomon said in a statement.
Five of the victims were women. They were taken to the hospital and treated for non-life threatening injuries, such as skin burns and peeling, ABC7 reports. The status of the sixth victim was not immediately known.
Additionally, three of the victims were teenagers.
“The incident appears to be targeted and follows an earlier altercation,” Solomon said.
All of the victims were in stable condition as of Tuesday. The scene prompted a heavy emergency response, including a HAZMAT team, as first responders determined what type of chemical was involved, News 12 reported.
Neighbors told News 12 they heard screams moments after the attack, and recalled hearing one of the victims tell first responders: “They threw acid at us.”
One juvenile was arrested in connection with the incident. Charges were pending as of Tuesday.
The Independent has contacted the mayor’s office for more information.
“My thoughts are with those hurt in this horrific attack, and I want our communities to know that violence like this has absolutely no place on our streets. I have directed JCPD to use its full resources on the investigation, and to ensure that our officers work around the clock to find those responsible and bring them to justice,” Solomon said.
Authorities said their investigation into the incident remains ongoing.
