LONDON (AFP) - Five men appeared in a British court on Wednesday (July 25) over a suspected acid attack on a three-year-old boy, including the victim's own father and three Slovakians.

The boy was taken to hospital with serious burns to his arm and face following the attack outside a store in Worcester, central England, on Saturday.

Kidderminster Magistrates' Court, which is nearby, heard on Wednesday that he and his mother had been taken to a "place of safety".

The long-term implications of his injuries are not yet known.

The boy's father, 39, who has not been named for legal reasons, appeared alongside the four others in court.

They have all been charged with conspiring between July 16 and July 21 to cause grievous bodily harm to the victim with intent.

The others were named as Adam Cech, 27, and Jan Dudi, 25, Slovakian nationals from Birmingham, Norbert Pulko, 22, a Slovakian from London, and Jabar Paktia, 41, from Wolverhampton, central England.

They spoke only to confirm their names, ages and addresses but denied wrongdoing through their lawyers.

They were remanded in custody and will appear in court again on Aug 28.