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The man was speaking after two teenagers were sprayed in the face with an "unknown substance" after a row outside a takeaway in Harlow, Essex.

Police and paramedics were called to the restaurant on The Stow, east of the town centre, at around 7.30pm Sunday evening.

The victims had got into an argument with two men outside the Essex Pizza takeaway.

One of the men is then reported to have sprayed the teens with an unknown substance.

(Image: TWITTER:@999LONDON)

Witnesses reported that eight emergency vehicles were called to the scene after the liquid also hit others who were outside the takeaway but weren't involved in the fight.

Now one local resident, who asked not to be named, has compared the area to his own war-torn homeland Afghanistan.

The man, who works at nearby Farmhouse Pizza, was hit by the substance in the attack.

He told Essex Live: "One customer was waiting for pizza and one guy came and pulled his arm around and something came out.

(Image: PA)

"We ran and then I was sick. I felt weak and short of breath."

He warned that the area was getting more and more dangerous.

"I moved [from Afghanistan] because I was fighting for my life every day and now this is happening here," he went on.

"It makes you think why am I here? It's getting just as bad."

Harlow, 20 miles northeast of London, has recently been gripped by a wave of violent crime.

Earlier this month seven people were stabbed in the capital in the space of 24 hours.

This weekend the Daily Star revealed the violent gangs that are now running London's streets.

And a man was stabbed this week in broad daylight in East London just hours after another attack on a busy rush hour train.

(Image: POLICE HANDOUT)

A spokeswoman for Essex Police gave a description of one of the suspects of last night's attack.

"One of the men was described as white, aged between about 35 and 45 and of stocky build.

"He had blond wavy hair, was about 5ft 8 and wore a green jacket.

"We want to speak to anyone who saw what happened or has any information that could assist with our investigation.

"Contact Harlow CID on 101 quoting incident number 1038 of April 14.

Witnesses can also call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or reach them online at https://crimestoppers-uk.org/.