By Daniel Vassie and Celine Byford

AN INJURED 16-year-old boy has been taken to hospital and arrested after being hurt by acid at a Hampshire railway station.

British Transport Police, South Central Ambulance Service and Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service rushed to the scene and alarmed members of the public took to social media following the incident at Eastleigh station.

The injured boy was arrested on suspicion of possession of a weapon capable of discharging a noxious substance.

Commuters boarding trains were evacuated from the station on Thursday.

One witness said: “I saw a guy carrying a bottle on Platform 2 and 3. There were a lot of police and we were originally told to leave the station.”

Another said: “Some young lad was running along the platform just before 12pm. Next thing I know, I could see police officers and station staff wrestling with him.”

British Transport Police said: “At 12.40pm today, officers were called to Eastleigh station after a boy was injured as a result of coming into contact with a noxious substance.

“The boy has been treated by colleagues from the South Coast Ambulance Service and the fire and rescue service, and taken to University Hospital Southampton, after he came in contact with the substance this afternoon.

“The boy’s injuries are not believed to be life threatening, he remains in hospital being treated. There are no other reported injuries.

“Officers are conducting enquiries to understand the circumstances leading to him being injured. At this early stage it is not believed anyone else was involved.

“The boy has been arrested on suspicion of possession a weapon capable of discharging a noxious substance, he’ll be taken to custody in due course.

“Early enquiries suggest that the boy was already in possession of the substance, believed to be an acid, when he became injured. Those injuries are not as a result of an assault.”