Acid attack in school: becoming scarily more common?

[TinkerTiger]

I'm beginning to fear an acid attack more now than a stabbing. You can be caught in the crossfires of a throw or even after trying to help someone.

Why is this happening and is it on the rise?

www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cjd51x9yr89o.amp

Highlights of this story (copied from DM):

'Victim one - a 16-year-old boy, whose injuries are not life-threatening or life-changing. He remains in hospital.

'Victim two - a 27-year-old woman - whose condition is not life-threatening or life-changing. She has been discharged in from hospital.

'Victim three - A 14-year-old girl, whose injuries may potentially be life-changing. She remains in hospital.

'Two officers were taken to hospital as a precaution after they reported feeling unwell.'

Two teenagers and a teacher hospitalised after 'acid attack'
mol.im/a/13910583

Acid attacks are very concerning but are still very rare (in the hundreds total per year).
Knife attacks are more common but are still not likely to happen to the vast majority of people.

Are you in a high crime area? Risk from violent crime outside the home is not evenly spread.

I'm thinking of myself more as a bystander than a potential victim, I think I'd stand more of a chance if something kicked off with a stabbing and I ran away than if someone was throwing acid.

I'm in London, in a borough that ranks among the top for highest crime rates.

That along with moped muggings is making me feel like I need to be more cautious. I used to say that (despite the high crime borough) I feel pretty safe walking by myself.

This sounded truly awful