Police are appealing for public assistance after several people were sprayed in the face with a chemical following a string of incidents in the Surry Hills and Darlinghurst areas.
About 1.05am today (Friday 1 January 2019), a man was arguing with a group of people outside a licensed-premises near the intersection of Oxford and Crown Streets, Darlinghurst, before threatening the group with a can believed to contain a chemical.
Police have been told a short time later, about 1.30am, the man became involved in an altercation with a man and two women outside a licensed-premises on Oxford Street, Surry Hills.
During the altercation, the trio were sprayed in the face with a chemical, before the other man fled the scene.
Officers from Surry Hills Police Area Command attended and located two women and a man suffering irritation to their face and eyes, however, they did not require further treatment.
Police have been told a bystander confronted the man believed to be involved, and removed the spray from him before handing it to security at a nearby licensed premises.
Officers collected the spray from the venue, which is believed to be a form of OC spray.
As inquiries continue, police are appealing for public assistance to locate a man described as being of Caucasian appearance, with a slim to medium build, and red spiked hair with shaved sides.
He was last seen running west along Oxford Street towards Crown Street, Surry Hills.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence.
