[NeedMoreTea]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acid_throwing#United_Kingdom

London Metropolitan Police showed a sharp rise in attacks, with 465 recorded in 2017

Particularly common in London, and amongst some immigrant communities. Other countries are not so far behind, and I gather it is quite common in some of the developing world, like India and Pakistan.

[cc81]

In the UK it seems it has mostly been a weapon among criminals more than a honor thing that is more common in the developing world.

[ptaipale]

This probably is due to incentives - carrying a knife may bring a long prison sentence, carrying a bottle of acid or lye as weapon did not. UK changed sentencing guidelines last year.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-43225911

[NeedMoreTea]

Now, sure, especially in London. It's grown as a weapon of choice phenomenally quickly over the last 5 years, from almost nothing.

Seems like it may have been noticed being used for honour attacks in communities in London, Bradford, Leicester etc, and escalated from there. A particularly horrible form of attack.