Six injured in acid attack in London's east

Witnesses say an argument broke out shortly before six people were injured in an acid attack in London's east.

Emergency services at Stratford Centre in London following a suspected noxious substance attack. Source: AAP

A suspected acid attack in east London injured at least six people on Saturday, with police saying they had arrested one man, although they did not believe the incident was terror related.

Police said they were called just before 8pm (1900 GMT) to the Stratford Centre, close to London's Olympic Stadium, following reports of a group of males spraying what was believed to be a noxious substance.

London Ambulance Service tweeted that they had treated at least five patients after sending paramedics and a fleet of ambulances.

The injuries were believed to have been sustained in different locations, with one male arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm, police said.

Witnesses told the Press Association that an argument had broken out shortly beforehand.

Burger King employee Hossen, 28, said a local homeless man came into the fast food outlet "to wash acid off his face".

There were 431 acid attacks in London last year, 398 of which were carried out in Stratford's borough of Newham.