Detectives are hunting two men who have been throwing acid on pedestrians in a string of attacks that have sent shockwaves through the capital, police said today.

Kuala Lumpur has been plagued by attacks on at least 22 people since February, terrifying residents across the city and its suburbs.

City police chief Zulkifli Abdullah said the pair, who ride a motorcycle, have targeted mostly women and children.

"We are doing more patrols and we hope people are more alert," Zulkifli told AFP .

"We will take very firm action against this irresponsible act."

In the latest attacks last weekend a woman with a one-year-old baby was splashed while another was reportedly hospitalised with burns to her face.

Most of the victims were hit with the unidentified liquid while walking to train stations, car parks and bus stops. Many escaped with minor injuries to their hands or faces.

Caught on CCTV

Meanwhile, Bernama reports that closed circuit TV (CCTV) footage at various locations where acid splashers had attacked their victims, has given police some clues as to the identity of the suspects.

Bukit Aman CID director Mohd Bakri Zinin said images from CCTV has given police some indication of the attackers' identity like skin colour, age and body type.

"The suspects are believed to be in their 20s and 30s. We also know the type of motorcycles that were used during the attacks," he told reporters after a visit by Women, Family and Community Development Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil to the Children's Investigation Centre (CIC) in Kuala Lumpur today.

He said acid splashers who have been known to work alone and in pairs, have so far maintained the same method of operation by riding a motorcycle and surprising the victims from behind and splashing corrosive liquid into their faces and so far 22 cases have been reported.

Mohd Bakri said the type of corrosive liquid used by the splashers was also difficult to get.

- Agencies