teenagers arrested

They all happened within 90 minutes in Hackney, Stoke Newington and Islington on Thursday night and detectives are treating them as linked.

The attacks began at 10.25pm on Thursday in Hackney Road.

The teenage male is being held at an east London police station on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and robbery.

The victims were taken to hospital, with one of them suffering "life-changing injuries".

One 32-year-old man on a moped was left with facial injuries after a moped, with two male riders, pulled up alongside him in Hackney at about 10.25pm.

Acting Police spokesperson, Su’a Le Mamea Tiumalu says they are trying to determine whether the teenagers are part of a criminal gang.

However, he says they were apprehended on suspicions of conspiracy to cause a riot.

“The five teenagers are under investigations for planning to start a fight in town. Police were monitoring social media and thanks to the help of the public we identified a few who were having exchanges about starting a brawl in town,” said Su’a.