Everything we know about chemical attack suspect as manhunt enters fourth day
Police have now been searching for nearly four days for a man wanted over a heinous chemical attack which left a mum with life-altering injuries.
Abdul Ezedi has been on the run since Wednesday night when the 31-year-old woman was splashed with the corrosive liquid. Her two young daughters were also injured in the attack, as well as several others who rushed to help.
As the search enters the fourth day with the National Crime Agency - Britain's equivalent of the FBI - now involved, pressure is mounting on Ezedi to hand himself in with both the Metropolitan Police and Ezedi's brother urging him to come forward. He's described as having "very significant" facial injuries to the right side of his face.
Here is everything we know so far on the attack, Ezedi's known movements and the hunt to trace him.
Chemical attack
Abdul Ezedi was last seen at King's Cross Underground Station at 21:00hrs on Wednesday, 31 January (Met Police)The 31-year-old victim was attacked with an unspecified corrosive alkaline chemical at around 7.25pm in Lessar Avenue, Clapham, South London, on Wednesday night. Her daughters, aged three and eight, were also injured, with the youngest reportedly "thrown" to the ground. Ezedi then attempted to leave the scene but crashed his car, before fleeing on foot.
Man in 30s dies after being stabbed in park sparking police probe
A total of 12 people were injured in the attack. One woman in her 50s who rushed to intervene was reportedly left with "burnt eyeballs", her partner has claimed.
The first victim meanwhile was rushed to hospital and is thought to have "life-changing injuries". The two girls were also hurt, although their injuries are not thought to be as serious as their mother's. A relative of Ezedi's has since claimed the victim had been "in a relationship" with him.
The chemical used in the attack has not been specified, however police released footage of a raid on a property in Newcastle on Saturday in which containers with corrosive warning labels were recovered. Tests are now being carried out to determine if it was the same substance used.
Police say three members of the public who came to the aid of the family during Wednesday's attack, two in their 30s and one in her 50s, have all been discharged from hospital with minor burns. Five officers who responded to the incident were also treated and have now left hospital. As well as the 11 people taken to hospital, a man in his 50s, who also helped, declined hospital treatment for minor injuries, police said.
Timeline of Ezedi's movements
Detectives say Ezedi's vehicle was seen in Newcastle at 00.15am on Wednesday. By 6.30am the vehicle was seen travelling into Tooting, south London. A further sighting of his car was confirmed in Croydon at 4.30pm and he was seen driving in Streatham at 7pm.
The attack on a 31-year-old woman, believed to be known to Ezedi with a relative claiming they had been in a relationship, and her daughters, aged three and eight, took place in Lessar Avenue in Clapham at 7.25pm that night. Ezedi made off in his car but it crashed nearby. He then left the vehicle and ran off.
At 7.33pm the suspect boarded a Northern line train at Clapham South Tube station, and got off at King's Cross just before 8pm. He was seen on CCTV leaving a Tesco Express near King's Cross, and turning right. He had significant facial injuries and is believed to have bought a bottle of water.
Ezedi re-entered King's Cross Tube station at 9pm and boarded a southbound Victoria line train. He has not been seen since. It is now more than three days since Ezedi went on the run.
Nationwide hunt
Police released new images on Saturday of containers seized from a house in NewcastleSince Wednesday's attack, police have raided five properties in the hunt for their suspect. The Met Police said searches have taken place at two addresses in east London and three in Newcastle. Bodycam footage shows officers discovering empty containers bearing warnings about corrosive substances in a home in Newcastle.
Police said forensic tests are being conducted to determine if the containers held the substance used in the attack on January 31. "Significant and important pieces of evidence" were recovered in the raids, Met Commander Jon Savell said.
Russian model killed after calling Putin a 'psychopath' was strangled by her ex
"The police investigation to establish his subsequent movements and ultimately locate him is continuing at pace. I want to thank everyone who has contacted police to share what they know.
"We have received dozens of calls with information, including possible sightings, and every single piece of information has been recorded and forms part of our ongoing investigation. I can assure the public that my colleagues and I are fully committed to using every available tool and tactic for as long as it takes to find Abdul Ezedi.
"I am today urging the public to remain vigilant and to contact police immediately if they may have seen Ezedi or have information about him. I would also like to reiterate that if you see Ezedi, you should call 999 immediately. He should not be approached."
Who is Ezedi?
Ezedi is a convicted sex offender and previously came to the UK in 2016 (Metropolitan Police/AFP via Gett)
He was last seen at King's Cross station (Met Police)Abdul Shokoor Ezedi arrived in the UK from Afghanistan on the back of a lorry in 2016, claiming to have converted to Christianity, which would have put him at risk following the 2021 Taliban takeover of the country. Two years later, he was given two suspended sentences at Newcastle crown court after pleading guilty to sexual assault and exposure.
He was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years. Now questions are being as to why he was allowed to remain in the country after his conviction. Prime Minster Rishi Sunak's spokesman said on Friday that the PM does not think "foreign criminals should be able to stay" in the UK.
Meanwhile the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle, which Ezedi is understood to have visited, said in a statement it had found nothing to suggest he had become a Catholic but checks were continuing. It said: "Our thoughts and prayers are first and foremost with the victims of this appalling attack in south London."
The diocese confirmed that Ezedi "visited our diocesan Justice and Peace Refugee Project, a charitable venture which assists a wide range of people who come to us in need". It added: "After checking local parish records and central records and after consulting with clergy we have no indication that Abdul Ezedi was received into the Catholic faith in this diocese or that a Catholic priest of this diocese gave him a reference. We do not know which Christian church received him nor which Christian minister gave him a reference."
The Church of England said it is currently not aware of any links to its churches, with a spokesperson adding that it is "the role of the Home Office, and not the church, to vet asylum seekers and judge the merits of their individual cases".
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
