Thugs have thrown acid in the face of a soldier and slashed at him with a knife across his upper body while he was jogging outside his barracks in west London, it was revealed today.

Police are hunting for three men who cornered the Irish Guardsman in Hounslow on Tuesday evening.

He had to strip off and be hosed down by firefighters to wash away the corrosive substance from his bleeding body.

He was cut across his arm and stomach with a blade and acid was sprayed in his face in a robbery initially feared to be a terror attack.

The unnamed soldier was hospitalised by the brutal assault which took place close to the Cavalry Barracks in west London close to Heathrow Airport.

Firefighters use their hoses to wash away acid from the soldier (pictured) who was attacked in a robbery outside his London barracks this week

Firefighters had to use a hose to wash away the chemicals he was attacked with.

Luckily his injuries are not thought to be life-threatening but there are concerns the assault could affect his sight.

He may have been singled out for his Apple Watch as the popular gadgets can sell for over £1,000.

Police believe the attack was a robbery as the soldier’s mobile phone was stolen.

A source told The Sun: ‘He was just out for a run. He wasn’t in Army gear or clothes that suggested he was Forces.

‘Not far from his base, three men jumped him and he had something sprayed in his face and his arm and stomach were cut. Cops are certain it’s not terror and everyone on the base is being told it’s not terror but it’s hard not to think of Lee Rigby when something like this happens.

‘Officers say it was a robbery gone wrong. There have been similar incidents in the area.’

The soldier, in his 30s, managed to return to base to get help and emergency services came to his aid before he was taken to hospital.

The acid attack and knifing took place as the soldier ran in the streets around Cavalry Barracks in west London, home of the Irish Guards

Police are investigating the attack which is being treated as a violent robbery.

A Metropolitan Police statement said: ‘Police were called to Hounslow Heath, Hounslow at 4.35pm on Tuesday October 29 following reports of a noxious substance attack.

‘Officers, the London Ambulance Service and London Fire Brigade attended and found a man aged in his 30s, suffering from facial injuries and slash wounds to the upper body.’

‘He was treated by LAS before being taken to hospital; his condition is not believed to be life-threatening.

‘No arrests have been made at this stage. Enquiries into the full circumstances continue but at this early stage the incident is being treated as a robbery.’