‘Mystery substance thrown at teen’ near huge UK shopping centre as he’s rushed to hospital with life-changing injuries

A TEENAGER has suffered “potentially life-changing injuries” after being attacked with a mystery substance outside a huge shopping centre. Cops have arrested a 19-year-old man after the horror attack near the Arndale Shopping Centre in Manchester this evening. Emergency teams, including fire crews and paramedics, rushed to the popular Exchange Square in the city centre at around 6.10pm. The teen had an “unknown substance” thrown at him following a “verbal altercation”, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! He was urgently rushed to hospital, where he is being treated for “potentially life -changing injuries”. A 19-year-old man has since been arrested on suspicion of assault, the force added. He remains in custody while investigations into the attack continue. Witnesses described seeing the victim being “hosed down” following the horror. They told MEN: “The fire brigade hosed down one of the lads and he was taken in an ambulance topless.” GMP has urged anyone with more information or dashcam footage of the attack to get in touch. Most read in The Sun The force said: “At 6.10pm this evening, we were called to an ongoing disturbance at Exchange Square in the city centre. “Officers arrived at the scene and established that an individual has had an unknown substance thrown at them following a verbal altercation. “The victim, a male in his mid-teens has received an injury that has been described as not life-threatening but potentially life-changing. “A 19-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of assault and remains in custody. “There is a scene in place and investigations are currently ongoing.” Traffic started to pile up near the shopping centre after officers cordoned off the scene. Pictures showed fire engines and police cars piling along Withy Grove. The road has since re-opened in both directions.