The Friday papers are dominated by the hunt for the suspect in the alkaline substance attack which left a girl and her mother with potentially life-changing injuries.
The Daily Telegraph and Daily Mail report the suspect, Abdul Ezedi, is understood to be a convicted sex offender who was twice denied asylum.
The front page of tomorrow's Daily Telegraph:
‘Chemical attacker’ was failed asylum seeker#TomorrowsPapersToday
Sign up for the Front Page newsletterhttps://t.co/x8AV4OoUh6 pic.twitter.com/AzUfkPbuhc
— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) February 1, 2024
Friday’s Daily MAIL: “Manhunt” #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/VwBr2MBPh6
— Allie Hodgkins-Brown (@AllieHBNews) February 1, 2024
Meanwhile, The Sun says the injured mother screamed “I can’t see, I can’t see” after the attack.
Friday’s SUN: “I Can’t See! I Can’t See!” #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/3c2kJXXjOR
— Allie Hodgkins-Brown (@AllieHBNews) February 1, 2024
Elsewhere, the Daily Express reports Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is considering taking a penny off National Insurance in the Budget.
Tomorrow's front page: Jeremy Hunt plans to cut 1p off National Insurance in major Spring Budget move #tomorrowspaperstodayhttps://t.co/bP1UmBLsO1 pic.twitter.com/tXGmtnwOg4
— Daily Express (@Daily_Express) February 1, 2024
But millions of Britons face a “stealth tax” effect which will drag them into higher rates of income taxation, according to the i.
Friday’s i: “Millions face stealth tax rise as Tories demand cuts” #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/BZFY2xwDss
— Allie Hodgkins-Brown (@AllieHBNews) February 1, 2024
The Times and Financial Times both lead with the Bank of England keeping interest rates at 5.25%.
Friday’s TIMES: “Bank chief raises hopes that rates have peaked” #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/nBxthZ2El5
— Allie Hodgkins-Brown (@AllieHBNews) February 1, 2024
Friday’s FINANCIAL Times: “BoE sets stage for rate cuts but insists on ‘more evidence’ of falling inflation” #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/VprrfpQXzo
— Allie Hodgkins-Brown (@AllieHBNews) February 1, 2024
The Guardian reports the US has ordered strikes against an Iran-backed militia following an attack on an American base on Sunday.
Friday’s GUARDIAN: “US orders strikes on Iran-backed militia in revenge for base attack” #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/Ai1jtCH8SZ
— Allie Hodgkins-Brown (@AllieHBNews) February 1, 2024
The Daily Mirror carries a plea from Paul Gascoigne to Marcus Rashford, urging the Manchester United forward not to “make the same mistakes as me”. Rashford is reported to have gone out in Belfast last Thursday night until 3am, before reporting ill the following day and going on to miss Sunday’s FA Cup win at Newport.
Friday's front page: Don't make same mistakes as me, Marcus https://t.co/r4vLBhP3pN#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/0OBG4SDedd
— The Mirror (@DailyMirror) February 1, 2024
The Independent carries the latest in its campaign to grant Afghan soldiers asylum in the UK.
Friday’s INDEPENDENT Digital: “Minister tells MPs: We got it wrong on Afghan war heroes” #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/JYrpQ87FWJ
— Allie Hodgkins-Brown (@AllieHBNews) February 1, 2024
Civil servants have been told rolling their eyes in a meeting at work could be classed as a microaggression, according to the Metro.
Tomorrow's Paper Today 📰
‘EYE ROLLS AT WORK AGGRESSIVE’
🔴 Lewis to join Ferrari
Win £1000 every Monday – pick up a paper to find out how 💰#TomorrowsPaperToday pic.twitter.com/6pJ7MVz74M
— Metro (@MetroUK) February 1, 2024
And the Daily Star says an Instagram fraudster is pretending to be Liverpool’s potential new manager Xabi Alonso.
Friday’s Daily STAR: “You’ll Never Want A Loan” #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/KgvWjBZXn9
— Allie Hodgkins-Brown (@AllieHBNews) February 1, 2024