Asian man forced to drink acid in 'honour attack'

A young Muslim woman in the UK is in hiding after her male friend was forced to drink acid and stabbed twice in the back in an apparent 'honour attack' in East London, police said on Thursday.

The Danish man, who is of Asian origin, is in a serious but stable condition in hospital after he was assaulted three weeks ago. Sulphuric acid is said to have been forced down his throat.

The 24-year-old, currently being treated in a specialist unit in Essex, is now blind, his tongue has been destroyed and he has suffered 90 per cent burns.

Police said that both the woman and the man lived in the Asian community of East London. Their relationship is said to have upset the woman's family who felt that she was bringing "dishonour" on them.

Two men, aged 19 and 25, appeared before Waltham Forest Magistrates on Thursday, charged with the attempted murder of the man on July 2. Five men have been arrested and bailed "pending further inquiries" by police. The identities and countries of origin have not been revealed.

The Scotland Yard has warned the woman that her life is in danger and she is in hiding.

Detectives believe that the man and woman were not in a sexual relationship but were just friends.