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The family of a Muslim woman targeted in an horrific acid attack on her 21st birthday fear it was a race hate crime.

Recounting her ordeal on Twitter, student Resham Khan told how she was sitting in a car at traffic lights with her cousin Jameel Muhktar when a man sprayed corrosive liquid at them through the open window.

The thug then chased the pair as they tried to drive off but they lost control of the car and crashed into a fence, she said.

The acid burned their skin, clothes and parts of the car.

(Image: Daily Mirror)

The cousins were left ripping off their clothes and begging passers-by for water.

Both were taken to hospital and have suffered 'life-changing' injuries, police said.

Ms Khan, who has aspirations to be a model, was left with damage to one eye and extensive burns.

Police are investigating the attack in Beckton, east London, last Wednesday, which Ms Khan said was completely unprovoked.

(Image: Daily Mirror)

Relatives said last night they fear the attack was motivated by Islamophobia in the wake of recent terror attacks.

One told The Sun: "We do see it as a possible terror attack.

"Nobody in their right mind would just go and do something like that.

"It’s because they are Islamic."

Describing the attack, Ms Khan said: “The pain was excruciating. I was struggling to close the window.

"My cousin struggled to get us away."

"I saw my clothes burn away in front of me.

"He put his foot down as we were coming onto a dual carriage way but the pain took over and we crashed."

(Image: Daily Mirror)

"We stripped off in the middle of the road, running around screaming and begging for water. We did this for 45 minutes. No ambulance came.”

Passers by helped the pair get to a nearby hospital before the ambulance or police arrived.

They have since been transferred to a specialist burns unit, but police say their injuries are ‘life changing’.

The suspect ran off after the attack and has not been caught.

(Image: Daily Mirror)

Ms Khan, who had been due to start a new job, needed skin grafts on her face and burns across the whole of her body.

Her cousin also suffered serious burns he had to be put into an induced coma.

(Image: Daily Mirror)

The student added: “I’m devastated.I keep wondering if my life will ever be the same.

"I feel as though I’m blessed to have my limbs and senses. But I loved my face and body.”

The Met Police said in a statement said: "Police were called at approximately 9.15am on June 21 to reports that two occupants of a car had been sprayed with a corrosive substance in Tollgate Road.

"The occupants, a man aged 37 and a woman aged 21, were assisted by members of the public and had been taken to an east London hospital prior to the arrival of police and the London Ambulance Service. Both victims have suffered burn injuries described as life-changing.

"It is believed the victims were inside a parked car when a man approached and threw a corrosive substance through the open window.

"The car made off pursued by the suspect on foot before it collided with a fence. The suspect made off.

"Officers from Newham and the Met's Territorial Support Group executed a warrant at an address in E16 on the afternoon of 21 June in connection with the incident.

"There were no arrests; enquiries continue."