COPS investigating after a three-year-old had acid hurled in his face while sat in his pram have hinted the horror was linked to "community dispute".

The toddler's desperate mum screamed "what have they done to my baby?" after thugs chucked the substance in Home Bargains in Worcester leaving him with serious burns.

12 Police are hunting three men following the suspected attack Credit: PA:Press Association

Police have arrested three men aged 22, 25, and 26 in London - 130 miles away from the attack - and were today seen searching a home in Walthamstow, East London.

A fourth man, aged 39, from Wolverhampton, was arrested following the attack on Saturday afternoon and remains in custody.

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All four are being held on suspicion of conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm.

Speaking at police HQ in Worcester this afternoon, Chief Superintendent Mark Travis hinted the attack's motive may have been a result of a "dispute in communities".

12 Police believe the toddler was deliberately targeted Credit: PA:Press Association

West Mercia Police speaks about the latest updates of the Worcester acid attack – Boy, 3, was sitting in pram outside Home Bargains on family shopping trip

12 Police are today searching an address in Walthamstow, East London, where three men were arrested over the attack Credit: Nick Obank - The Sun

12 The men - aged 22, 25, and 26 - were arrested overnight Credit: Nick Obank - The Sun

He said: "The family are coming to terms with something that is quite shocking.

"It's a difficult time for them and we need to make sure that while we work through the investigation they are safe and secure and are allowed to deal with the issues that they face."

When asked about acid attacks in the UK, he added: "As a local policing commander in support of our local community I want to make sure the message is really clear that this is a very, very rare occurrence and what we will do is work to make people understand that this is not the way to resolve issues and disputes in communities."

It comes as the mum and boy are said to be "in shock" and are being looked after by police in a secret location, Mail Online reports.

A West Mercia Police source told the website: "The mother fears for her safety and well-being and that of her little boy. This is an unspeakable crime.

"Police also fear for the safety of the mother and child and they’ve been temporarily moved away from their home while our investigation continues. They are under police protection."

It is believed the substance used was an acid or an alkaline, police said, and the horror was caught on CCTV but this is not being released.

12 Police have been at the home since the arrests were made Credit: Nick Obank - The Sun

12 West Mercia Police confirmed the three men were arrested at the home in Walthamstow Credit: Nick Obank - The Sun

Horrified witnesses described a woman screaming for help as a "skinny white guy" fled the shop.

One shocked onlooker told the Daily Mail the mum was later seen with her head in her hands screaming: "My baby, my baby, what have they done to my baby?"

The witness added: "She was in floods of tears and people from the shop were telling her they had called an ambulance and her child would be well looked after."

The child was rushed to hospital with serious burns but has since been discharged and is back with his family .

But police said the long-term effect of the toddler's injuries are not yet known.

Detective Inspector Tony Garner said: "We'd like to thank everyone who shared our appeal over the weekend and contacted us with information. All of this is helping us to build up a better picture of this incident.

"We're continuing to urge anyone else with information to contact us."

12 Police were scouring the area in search of the container used in the attack today Credit: SWNS:South West News Service

Ch Supt Mark Travis from West Mercia Police added: "This has been a shocking incident which we know has caused a great deal of concern in our community.

"Our thoughts are with the little boy and his family at this time and we are absolutely committed to getting to the bottom of this incident.

"I would like to pay tribute to my officers, some of whom have worked for 24 hours without rest on this investigation and have done a thorough and painstaking job.

"The operation has been a great example of partnership work across this police force but also with other forces across the country.

"There is still work to do and we are keeping an open mind as to the circumstances of the incident. We are still appealing for anyone with information to come forward and help us with our enquiries."

The incident occurred at around 2.15pm in Home Bargains at the Shrub Hill Retail Park in Worcester on Saturday.

Although a racial motive has not been ruled out, detectives have said the attack is not believed to be linked to an English Defence League march which took place nearby.

12 Cops searched the busy retail park as onlookers spoke of their horror Credit: SWNS:South West News Service

A worker at a nearby hardware store said: "It's just disgusting. They told me he was covered in some kind of spray."

The busy retail park was filled with families and children on Saturday as they enjoyed the start of their summer holidays.

Donna Bird, who runs a city centre pub, said: "It's sickening to think that someone would do this, let alone to a three-year-old defenceless child. Nowhere is safe anymore.

"To think that this happened when you're going shopping or just going out about your normal day. I hope he makes a full recovery, must be heartbreaking for his parents."

12 The inside of the Home Bargains where the attack took place Credit: SWNS:South West News Service

12 The shop has since re-opened to customers Credit: SWNS:South West News Service

Eyewitness Rachel Bryant, 22, said: "I'd been shopping with my mum and were heading to Home Bargains when there were loads of police and ambulances. I saw a woman crying and being comforted by police. I didn't know what it was all about.

"When I heard about the little boy being attacked with acid I couldn't believe it.

"It's horrendous to think something like this could happen to a little boy in the middle of a shop on a Saturday afternoon."

Cops were seen scouring bins and looking under cars yesterday as they continued hunting for the container used in the acid attack.

12 The-three year-old was attacked inside Home Bargains in Worcester Credit: Caters News Agency

Shocked shoppers have described seeing police cars and ambulances dashing to the shop.

Dean Carey, 22, assistant manager at the store, said: "Events happened yesterday, police knew what happened and we are working with them.

"Everything is fine, everything is nice and safe for everyone, the staff are all fine. The incident happened but now we have moved on."

12 Police were called to the scene yesterday afternoon

Worcester MP Robin Walker said: "The shock will be universal. Anyone conducting such an attack on a small child is just appalling.

"It's an issue which rightly there has been a lot of concern in Parliament and a move to toughen sentences for any kind of acid attack.

"But particularly the nature of this being a small child is very concerning indeed.

"At this stage the key thing is for the police to act quickly and see if they can track down the perpetrator and understand what's behind it, because it is an unthinkable thing to happen."

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Worcester City Council leader Marc Bayliss branded the attack "absolutely pure evil".

He said: "I have never heard of an acid attack in Worcester so this is absolutely not something we have any experience of."

Anyone with information should call 999 quoting incident 442s of 21 July 2018. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555 111.

UK HIT BY SURGE IN MENACE THE UK has seen a surge in reported acid attacks, with numbers soaring from 228 in 2012 to 601 just four years later. We now have one of the world’s highest rates of attacks per capita, according to Acid Survivors Trust International. Last year was widely regarded as the worst with more than 400 incidents in six months. One saw Arthur Collins throw acid in a nightclub in Hackney, East London — injuring 20 people and leaving many victims with permanent scars. Collins, ex-boyfriend of Towie star Ferne McCann, was given 20 years’ jail.

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