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A woman in her 20s was left "screaming in pain" as bystanders poured 10 bottles of water over her face after a suspected acid attack.

Eyewitnesses said the woman jumped off the bus and ran into a shopping centre begging for water.

Shopkeepers and passers-by rallied to help the woman after she had a noxious substance sprayed into her mouth while on a bus in Brixton, earlier today.

The woman reportedly ran screaming from the bus and ran through Reliance Arcade shopping centre off Brixton Road begging shopkeepers for bottles of water to pour on her face.

(Image: London News Pictures Ltd) (Image: London News Pictures Ltd)

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One stall holder, who asked not to be named, said: "Her face seemed okay but she kept asking for water saying her face was burning - she was panting, trying to breathe.

"She ran into the arcade and after that I didn't see her again because so many people came, an ambulance and a lot of police."

Rafiq Mohammed, 39, who also has a stall in the arcade, said he poured 10 bottles of water on her.

"This lady came out of the bus, she was screaming, she came to the shop asking for water and was pouring it on her face.

(Image: Mirrorpix)

(Image: Mirrorpix)

"She went in to my shop and she was lying on the floor saying someone had sprayed something in her mouth.

"A few of us tried to call her but she was just screaming in pain. We poured 10 bottles of water over her face."

(Image: London News Pictures Ltd) (Image: London News Pictures Ltd)

Police have confirmed the woman has been taken to hospital for treatment after what they believe is a targeted attack by a single male.

People on social media described "feeling sick" after they saw a young woman being doused with water by firefighters.

One passer-by said she saw a woman sat on the floor while being treated with water.

Parts of Brixton Road and the iconic Electric Avenue have been cordoned off with all emergency services responding to the incident.

Police were called to the scene at around 1:45pm by the London Ambulance Service.

Lambeth Police said: "The woman injured on the bus as a result of the suspected noxious substance has been taken to hospital.

"Her condition is not life changing or life threatening. No major burns. Enquiries continue to trace the single male suspect. This attack appears to be a targeted & not random."

Images from the scene show a number of emergency service vehicles parked at the junction of Electric Avenue and Brixton Road.

(Image: London News Pictures Ltd) (Image: Getty Images) (Image: London News Pictures Ltd)

Another witnesses, Claire Martin, took an image from inside a bus of police cars parked along the street with police tape outside H&M.

Passer-by Becky Reid said: "Feel physically sick after walking past a poor innocent person getting hosed down by firefighters are being could in the middle of an acid fight in Brixton.

"So scary this can happen on our doorstep. Hope they are ok?"

(Image: Mirrorpix)

The suspected attack comes after a bank holiday weekend crimewave.

On Sunday morning, three people were hurt when they were doused with a "noxious substance" during a fight between two groups in Shacklewell Lane in Hackney, east London, at around 5.20am

Police have issued an appeal to help trace a single male believed to have been involved in today's incident.

A statement from the Met Police said: "The bus - which is believed to be the scene of the attack - continues to be examined.

"A crime scene remains in place and temporary road closures are in effect. At this stage, this attack is being treated as GBH."

Anyone with information is requested to call police on 101 quoting CAD 4258/8May or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. You can also tweet police via @MetCC.