LONDON -- A 15-year-old Army Cadet who was selling poppies for Remembrance Day was attacked with a lit aerosol can on Saturday.
The teenager, who was wearing his uniform, suffered burns to his face and singed hairs, according to the BBC. The offender, described by Greater Manchester Police as black or Asian, 5'8", under the influence of alcohol and wearing a dark top, walked off without saying anything.
"This is an absolutely appalling attack on a young man who was raising money to help remember all those who gave their lives fighting bravely for their country," Detective Inspector Liam Boden said on Sunday.
Remembrance Day takes place in Britain on 11th November and marks the end of World War 1. Poppies have been used since 1921 to commemorate soldiers who have died in war.
Last week, police charged a man who allegedly threatened a 13-year-old poppy seller outside a supermarket in Belper, Derbyshire, with using threatening, abusive, insulting words or behaviour.
An 87-year-old poppy seller was also banned from the foyer of supermarket chain Morrisons in Taunton recently. When a customer observed that he was shivering in the cold, a store employee replied that he should "wear a warmer coat."
Twitter users have shared images of some of their local sellers.
Text of tweet here
— Hope Floats London (HFL_Waterloo) Date of tweet in following style: October, 2014
Text of tweet here
— Bristol Cathedral (BristolCathedra) Date of tweet in following style: August 30, 2013
At the Tower of London, 888,246 ceramic poppies have combined to form an installation entitled "Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red" that became so popular, organisers are asking the public to stay away.