Five women were wounded in New Jersey when two people riding a moped tossed “an acid substance” into the victims’ car on Monday night.
The women were treated in a Jersey City hospital with skin burns that were not believed to be life-threatening, according to city officials.
“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.” Jersey City Mayor James Solomon in a statement shared with the Daily News.
Investigators believe the attack was a targeted incident tied to an earlier altercation involving a group of people. No further information was provided about the nature of that conflict.
Preliminary information indicates sulfuric acid was thrown on the victims. They were all said to be in stable condition Tuesday afternoon.
Solomon said the Jersey City Police Department has been directed to commit all of its resources to bringing the culprits to justice. The investigation remains active and ongoing.
The National Institutes of Health describes sulfuric acid as a toxic and colorless liquid that’s “corrosive to the skin, eyes and mucous membranes” on its open chemistry database. It can be found in car batteries, detergents and fertilizers.
Contact with sulfuric acid can result in burning flesh and vision loss. Health officials recommend that individuals whose eyes are affected by the chemical flush with lots of water for at least 15 minutes.