Detectives have issued CCTV images of a suspect following a vicious assault that left a station employee with chemical burns and unable to see after confronting ticket evaders.
British Transport Police are appealing for the public’s help to identify a man captured on surveillance cameras in connection with the May attack at Blackfriars Station in central London.
The railway worker was carrying out his duties on the evening of 17 May last year when four men who had just arrived on a Sevenoaks service pushed through ticket barriers without paying their fares.
When the staff member attempted to stop one member of the group at approximately 6pm, the other three individuals initially ran from the scene, leaving their companion behind.
The situation quickly deteriorated when the trio returned to rejoin their associate during the confrontation with the employee. At that point, one member of the group produced a Lucozade bottle containing an unidentified liquid substance.
The attacker squirted the contents of the bottle directly into the worker’s face before all four men escaped from the station together, leaving their victim in severe distress.
The railway employee immediately experienced an intense burning sensation across his eyes and facial area. Within moments, he had completely lost his sight and required urgent medical attention.
Paramedics transported him to hospital where medical staff examined his injuries and confirmed he had sustained chemical burns to both his face and eyes from the unknown substance. The temporary vision loss added to the severity of the attack, though authorities have not disclosed how long it took for his sight to return.
Investigators from British Transport Police have spent months working to identify those responsible for what they have described as a shocking assault on someone performing their everyday work responsibilities.
Detective Constable Victoria Callaghan emphasized the serious nature of the incident, stating officers believe the individual shown in the footage “could assist our ongoing enquiries” and urged anyone who recognizes him to contact police immediately.
The force has made the CCTV image publicly available in hopes that members of the public will be able to help identify the man pictured. Officers are particularly keen to hear from anyone who was present at Blackfriars Station during the early evening of 17 May last year.
Witnesses to the incident or anyone who can name the person shown in the surveillance footage are being asked to come forward with information. Reports can be made by texting 61016 and including reference number 529 of 17 May 2025 in the message.
Alternatively, information can be provided by telephoning British Transport Police on 0800 405 040 during standard hours. Those who wish to remain completely anonymous can instead contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, which guarantees callers will not be identified.
The investigation remains active as detectives continue working to bring those responsible for the attack to justice and prevent similar incidents from occurring at railway stations across the transport network.
