CBC | Acid Attacks in the U.K.

Year: 2017
Location: London, UK
Camera / Format: Canon 5D mark III

Photos for a 2017 article I wrote while at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in London, entitled Acid attacks leave more than physical scars — and they're on the rise in Britain.

To view the full article, click here.
For the National segment featuring my interviews with Andreas and Samir, click here.

In December 2014, Andreas Christopheros opened the front door to his home in Cornwall, in southwest England,
to a man who said, “This is for you, mate,” and threw sulphuric acid in his face. It was later revealed that the man
had the wrong address and Andreas was not his intended target.

The U.K. has seen a dramatic increase in acid and noxious substance attacks over the past decade, with an increase of 30 per cent from 2015 to 2016 alone.

Samir Hussain was the victim of an acid attack after coming out of a midnight screening of Straight Outta Compton near Redhill, England in 2015.
“It’s quite hard to describe, but you can feel your face caving in and sort of melting away.”

Samir Hussein has worn this custom molded burn mask 20 to 22 hours per day since he was attacked with acid outside a movie theatre in August 2015.
The mask applies an even pressure to his face and has allowed his wounds to scar smoothly.

Samir stands in the parking lot where the attack took place.

Samir holding a family photo from before the attack.

SRG

SRG

The U.K. has seen a dramatic increase in acid and noxious substance attacks over the past decade, with an increase of 30 per cent from 2015 to 2016 alone.