Two young women suffered serious head injuries after they were attacked by a man outside a nightclub in Bloomsbury.
Shocking CCTV footage shows the shows the attacker striking the victims - aged 18 and 21 - with a canister following a verbal altercation, after having met them earlier in the evening.
Paramedics and police were called to the scene in Great Russell Street shortly after 4am on Sunday, October 30, where they found the women seriously injured.
At hospital, the 21-year-old was found to have suffered a fractured skull, while the 18-year-old suffered injuries to her face and head.
A third woman was also seen at the scene by paramedics but was not injured.
Met detectives investigating the incident on Wednesday released CCTV footage of the attack, and photos of two men they are keen to trace.
Police are still working to identify the man who threw the canister before fleeing the scene, as well as another man who returned to the scene to retrieve the weapon.
Video appears to show the man retrieving the canister stepping over one of the victims as she lies on the ground clutching her head following the attack.
Det Con Alexandra Davies, Central North Command Unit, said: “This was an unacceptable attack on three women simply enjoying a night out.
“We are determined to tackle violence against women and girls and we are doing everything we can to identify the men pictured.
“I know members of the public will share our concern about this incident and will be keen to help us trace them.”
