Ferne McCann urges wanted boyfriend Arthur Collins to hand himself in to police ‘immediately’ over club acid attack – in the same week she talked of marriage in OK! magazine interview
TOWIE star Ferne McCann has urged her boyfriend to “co-operate fully” with police and hand himself over for questioning as they revealed he is wanted in connection with the Dalston nightclub acid attack.
Arthur Collins was said to have been at the club where 20 victims were doused with a corrosive substance.
News he is wanted in connection with the attack comes on the same day Ferne revealed the pair planned to tie the knot - and defended his controversial past.
She has now urged the scaffolder, 25, to hand himself in.
A spokeswoman for Ferne, 26, said: “Ferne is aware the police wish to speak to Arthur Collins and the nature of the accusations against him. Obviously these are highly shocking and Ferne has co-operated with the police in their inquiries.
“She was not with Arthur on Sunday night, was not at Mangle and has no direct knowledge of the events.
"She wants to know the truth and urges Arthur to co-operate fully with the police and attend a police station immediately. ”
Cops executed an arrest warrant at the suspect’s £1million home where a 54-year-old man and 52-year-old woman were held over the discovery of illegal firearms and a cannabis farm. A male being sought over the acid attack was not present.
A male suspect was still wanted today as the victims recovered from burns suffered in the brawl, including two with serious injuries.
A source told The Sun the confrontation broke out at the Mangle E8 club in Dalston, East London, at 1am on Monday.
Witnesses told how victims were hit by liquid they thought was water at first before it started burning their flesh.
In a statement issued today, police said "a dispute between two groups of people developed inside the venue, resulting in a noxious substance being sprayed by a male suspect directly at Victims 1 and 2.
"Other people inside the venue suffered the effects of the substance."
A heavy police presence remained at Collins’ home near Broxbourne, Herts, following the raid on Monday.
Scaffolder Collins appeared on the front cover of OK! Magazine with This Morning favourite Ferne this week discussing plans to move in together - and even marriage.
Ferne said: “We spend every night together anyway.
“Moving in is definitely the next step."
She added: “And I know that seems a bit rushed, but when you know, you know."
The pair got back together in March - after first calling it quits last summer following a trip to Ibiza.
Ferne had previously defended her man’s controversial past.
A Met Police spokesman confirmed an arrest warrant had been executed at a property in Hertfordshire.
He added: “We do not comment on the identity of anyone who may or may not have been arrested or are wanted.”
A Hertfordshire police spokesman said: “Police conducting an arrest warrant at an address on White Stubbs Lane, Broxbourne, at 19.50pm on Monday April 17, discovered cannabis plants and cultivation equipment.
“A 54-year-old man and a 52-year-old woman were arrested on suspicion of cultivation of cannabis.
“Officers seized several plants and illegal firearms at the address.”
Stars including Towie’s Lydia-Rose Bright were present at the club but left before the fight broke out, it emerged today.
One reveller said: “It was definitely an argument over drugs. I heard the two black guys rowing about it.”
Detectives today confirmed the total number injured had risen to 20 and urged any witnesses to get in touch after cops were contacted by a further four victims.
Yesterday an Australian model relived the horror of the club attack as she revealed her injuries.
Detective Inspector Lee McCullough said: "We now have 20 people suffering from the effects of an acidic substance being sprayed in a confined space in a busy nightclub. All have burn related injuries.
"The noxious substance used has not yet been confirmed but samples retrieved from the scene have been sent for analysis.
"If you were there and saw anyone involved inside or leaving the nightclub, please get in touch."
The two most seriously injured men, aged 24 and 29, have been transferred to a specialist burns unit in Essex where they remained in a serious but stable condition.
Officers said they were looking for a single man they believe was responsible.
Ferne McCann’s mum told The Sun: “I don’t know anything about it I’m sorry.”
