A man is in intensive care after he was reportedly kidnapped, tortured and forced to drink ammonia before being dumped on the border of New Malden and Raynes Park by the A3.

University of Greenwich student Motaz Zaid, who is under police guard in hospital, was sprayed with ammonia and attacked with a pair of pliers by a masked gang who snatched him coming home to Parsons Green from a night out in the early hours of Friday.

A similar 'chemical attack' at a five-a-side football venue is not believed to be linked.

From Saturday: UPDATE: Stabbing victim in critical condition after "double chemical attack" in Raynes Park and New Malden area near A3

Police said today that they were called to St Mark's Close Fulham at about 12.40am to a report that a man had been stabbed and another dragged into a car. A 19-year-old was taken to hospital with stab injuries and later discharged.

About 10 minutes later patrol officers saw a silver Mercedes C220 estate with its boot open in Beverley Way.

A spokesman for the Met said: "They approached the vehicle, but it drove off and they pursued. They were unable to stop the vehicle and they returned to Beverley Way.

"In Beverley Way they found a 20-year-old man who had suffered facial burns and had been assaulted. It is believed this is the same man who was seen being dragged into a vehicle in St Marks Close, Fulham.

"London Ambulance Service was called and he was taken to south London hospital where he remains is in a stable condition."

Police say there are three suspects.

Detective Sergeant Paul Buckley, of Trident Gang Command, said: “Our investigation is progressing and we are in close contact with the victim and his family whilst he is being treated for his injuries in hospital.

“At this early stage in our enquiries we are exploring a number of possible lines of enquiry as to what the motive for this particularly nasty crime could be. 

“I would like to reiterate our appeals for witnesses and information and would reassure anyone concerned about contacting the police that they will be treated with the utmost sensitivity.”

The victims have told officers that they were sprayed with a corrosive liquid. It is believed that at some point the 20-year-old victim ingested some of it and has injuries to his throat.

A friend of the victim said it may have been a “revenge attack” following a minor car accident two weeks before.

A friend was also stabbed on his back and legs while trying to fend off the five masked attackers during the assault.

After being discharged from hospital, the friend told the Evening Standard: “They had been parked waiting for him to get back.

"As we both got out of the car, these five guys just jumped us. They sprayed something in our eyes and it blocked our vision."

The friend said he punched one of the attackers before being chased by three others and stabbed.

When he returned Mr Zaid was nowhere to be seen.

He added: "If I hadn’t been there no one would have known he was gone. When police found him they said it was 50/50 whether he would live."

The victim’s father Azz Zaid told the same newspaper his son was awake but could not speak, and it was unclear if his vision had been affected.

He said: “My heart is broken when I see my son like that. I can’t believe anyone could do that to another human being.”

Paramedics arrived to take him to hospital where he remains in a critical condition in intensive care under police guard.

No arrests have been made.

Mr Zaid told the Standard: “It was a small accident and the other car was scratched. But the people were violent and they warned him ‘if you don’t give us £400 we are going to burn your car’.”

Anyone with information should call police on 020 8785 8580 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Another chemical attack is believed to have happened in the same road just hours before in a separate incident.

Police and paramedics were called to Goals in Beverley Way, at about 8.30pm on Thursday, April 9 after a game of football got “out of control”.

A man was treated for facial burns before being rushed to hospital.

So far no one has been arrested in connection with the attack.

Call the newsdesk on 020 8722 6317 or email newsdesk@surreycomet.co.uk