The acid attack on two young British women in Zanzibar has cast a spotlight again on a sinister crime. How often do such assaults happen?
Anyone who throws acid in someone's face intends to scar them for life.
It is a crime with a marked gender skew. Experts say that women and girls are victims in 75-80% of cases. Of the female victims, about 30% are under 18.
The case of Kirstie Trup and Katie Gee, British tourists in Zanzibar, who had acid thrown on their faces, chests and hands, has caused revulsion.
The artistic director of Russia's Bolshoi Ballet was attacked in January. Now after 18 operations he is still almost completely blind, external, according to reports.
Another high profile case was that of Katie Piper,who in 2008 was the victim of an acid attack orchestrated by herjealous boyfriend. Since then she has had nearly 100 operations andbecome a campaigner.
Bolshoi Ballet artistic director Sergei Filin was attacked in January
NHS statistics for England do not separate out acid attacks. In 2011-12 there were 105 hospital admissions in England for "assault by corrosive substance", but the category covers more than just acid.
But 1,500 cases are recorded around the world every year, according to the Acid Survivors Trust International. "That is likely to be massively underreported," says Jaf Shah, ASTI executive director. "Most victims are fearful to report it to the police for fear of reprisal."
The lack of solid reported figures makes it hard to say whether acid attacks are on the rise globally, Shah says.
India has an increasing problem with acid attacks.ASTI estimates that 1,000 take place there every year. Eight weeks ago the country's supreme court criticised the Indian government for failing to act on the problem.
Mohammad Jawad, a plastic surgeon who helped rebuild Katie Piper's face and works with victims in South Asia, says the crime is about trying to destroy someone's identity.
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