A passenger squirted a rail worker in the face with an unknown chemical substance which made him lose vision in a "horrific attack”.
The victim was working at Blackfriars station when a group of men who travelled to London by train to Sevenoaks, Kent, barged through the ticket barriers.
One of the group was stopped by a member of staff while the others ran away. He quickly “became abusive” to the workers.
The three other people returned to the barriers. One of them whipped out a Lucozade Sport bottle from his jacket and sprayed a clear liquid onto his face. They then fled the scene.
The victim immediately felt pain in his eyes and couldn’t see. He was rushed to hospital where he has been treated for chemical burns and has undergone eye surgery for “long-term injuries”.
Recognise this man?
— British Transport Police (@BTP) December 9, 2025
Detectives are keen to speak to him as part of an ongoing investigation into a chemical attack.
Text his name to 61016, quoting reference 529 of 17 May.
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Detective constable at the British Transport Police Victoria Callaghan said: “This was a horrific attack that has left the victim requiring eye surgery for his long-term injuries.
“An investigation into the serious assault was launched immediately and we have been exploring all lines of enquiry over several months.”
Detectives have just released CCTV images after the attack at around 6pm on Saturday, May 17 to help track down the perpetrator.
DC Callaghan said: “We have recently obtained clearer CCTV footage of a man we believe can assist our investigation.
“If you know who he is, please contact us by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40, quoting reference 529 of 17 May 2025.”
The level of fare dodging in London has increased – with more than one in 20 Tube passengers failing to pay for their journeys.
About 400,000 journeys on a typical weekday are evaded across the Transport for London network - costing the body an estimated £200m a year in income.
Information can also be passed to Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555 111.
