A “traumatised” 14-year-old girl injured in a horror acid attack outside a west London academy reportedly now wants to be home-schooled, while her family plans to move away from the area.
The Year 10 pupil was outside Westminster Academy with a 16-year-old boy when acid was thrown over them on Monday afternoon.
The teens were rushed to hospital along with a member of staff who was injured as she tried to help them.
The girl was in a stable condition on Thursday after sustaining burns to the left side of her face, but it is thought her injuries may be life-changing.
She was due to undergo surgery at a London hospital, as police continued to hunt the suspect.
The 14-year-old’s father, Corey McFarlane, said: “Words cannot express the shock, pain, and trauma she is going through right now, both physically and emotionally.”
Mr McFarlane said on Thursday his family plans to move away from the Westminster area after the “horrific” attack, while his daughter no longer wants to attend school.
“This situation has also deeply affected my daughter mentally,” he wrote on a Gofundme page.
“She has already expressed that she does not want to return to school, so the support we’ve received will allow her to continue her education outside of mainstream schooling.”
Almost £9,000 has been raised through the fundraising page. Mr McFarlane said his family is “absolutely amazed and humbled” by the response, and said funds raised will help hire private tutors during his daughter’s upcoming GCSE year.
He told The Standard his daughter is “traumatised” by the attack, and “scared” by the prospect of having facial scars for life.
“She’s very traumatised by the attack,” said Mr McFarlane, 37.
“She's very scared about her injuries. She's a young girl, and these scars could be for life. She's very worried about that and has been asking about that.”
He said he has been staying at his daughter’s bedside in hospital, administering eye drops and applying paraffin to her face every couple of hours “to keep everything in place”.
“I can't explain what I'm going through - words can't explain it,” he said.
His older daughter, aged 16, has also been home since the attack. “She doesn't feel safe going out to school,” said Mr McFarlane.
The victim’s grandmother, Bridget McFarlane, told MailOnline police were reportedly probing whether the attack was linked to “a dispute with somebody at school”.
Detectives earlier said the scale of the girl’s injuries were not yet clear, but that her wounds were thought to be life-changing. The boy’s injuries are not thought to be life-changing or life-threatening.
Mr McFarlane described his daughter as “a fighter” and called for her attacker to be brought to justice following the “unimaginable” attack.
“This senseless act of violence has left her with severe injuries that require urgent and long-term medical care, surgeries, rehabilitation, and mental health support,” he said.
“As we focus on her recovery, we also need help to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice.
“We are working closely with authorities, but any support we can get from the community to spread awareness, gather information, and assist in the investigation would be deeply appreciated.”
The suspect is described by police as a tall, slim, Black male, wearing dark clothing with his face obscured, possibly by a mask or balaclava. He rode an e-scooter to and from the scene.
Met Detective Chief Inspector Dean Purvis said the victims are believed to have been were outside the main school building on Alfred Road when the suspect attacked them, before fleeing down nearby Harrow Road.
DCI Purvis urged anyone with information about the attacker to make contact immediately.
A 27-year-old member of staff from the school was also taken to hospital for treatment to injuries she sustained while “bravely and selflessly” giving the pupils first aid, but has since been discharged.
Two police officers were also taken to hospital as a precaution after feeling unwell, but have also been discharged.
Detectives have praised the member of staff for her “incredible” bravery, as well as the work of emergency services who attended the scene.
“The two teenage victims – a girl and a boy - remain in hospital,” said DCI Purvis on Tuesday. “For the 14-year-old girl we might not know for some time how severe her injuries are but at this time they are being treated as life-changing,” said DCI Purvis.
“I know how incredibly concerning this incident is to parents and pupils and the wider Westminster community.
“We are in close contact with the school and local authority, and I can assure people that a thorough investigation is well under way, and that my officers will not stop until the suspect is found and arrested.
“If you have information that can help us, it is imperative that you tell us immediately. The area at the time was busy with people and cars.
“I am particularly interested in hearing from anyone who might have captured dash cam footage that can help us establish what happened.”
The school was closed on Tuesday with lessons moved online as police carried out their investigations.
In a statement, school principal Numera Anwar said the “distressing” attack took place outside the main school building after hours as staff and pupils left for the day.
Ms Anwar said: “One pupil, a teacher and a member of the public have been injured in an incident outside the school building on the main road involving an acid-like corrosive substance.
“This was a distressing incident which took place after school hours when students and staff were leaving the school site.
“We are offering support to families and relatives of all involved.
“This is a difficult time for our community and I took the decision to close the school today to allow for a thorough investigation and to ensure the school can resume normally from tomorrow with all safety measures in place."
The leader of Westminster City Council, Cllr Adam Hug, described the attack as “truly shocking”.
