‘We will catch him, I’m wholeheartedly confident,’ says police chief
Detectives hunting the fugitive suspect in the Clapham chemical attack have revealed new footage from a raid in Newcastle which uncovered containers marked with a “corrosive” warning.
Sex offender Abdul Ezedi is being sought by police in connection with an incident where a mother and two children were doused with an alkaline substance in south London on Wednesday night, and detectives say they have received dozens of calls with information, including multiple possible sightings.
According to a relative, who vowed to “bring him in by myself if I have to”, Ezedi was reportedly in a relationship with the 31-year-old mother, who remains in a critical but stable condition and is believed to have sustained life-changing injuries
Ezedi was last seen boarding a southbound Victoria Tube at King’s Cross less than 90 minutes after the attack in Clapham, police revealed, as they published the last-known image of the 35-year-old fugitive, featuring severe burn marks down the right side of his face.
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New: Police reveal footage of Newcastle raid in search for Ezedi
Police have revealed footage from a raid in Newcastle by detectives searching for Abdul Ezedi.
Officers said they uncovered significant evidence in five overnight raids this week – at three addresses in Newcastle and two in east London – with detectives discovering multiple containers featuring “corrosive” warnings.
Analysis is now under way to establish whether they held the same substance used in the chemical attack on Wednesday night.
Police reveal footage of raid in search for Clapham attacker
Police said in an update on Saturday afternoon that they have been told of multiple possible sightings of Ezedi and have received dozens of calls with information.
Earlier, a close relative claimed that Ezedi was in a relationship with the mother he is suspected of attacking with chemicals in Clapham on Wednesday night.
The unidentified relative told Sky News they were worried about Ezedi and vowed to “bring him in by myself if I have to”.
The 31-year-old woman remains in a critical but stable condition in hospital having suffered what are likely to be life-changing injuries, police said.
Andy Gregory3 February 2024 19:30
Empty containers with ‘corrosive’ warnings uncovered in Newcastle raid
Metropolitan Police Commander Jon Savell told reporters outside Scotland Yard on Friday that “significant and important pieces of evidence” were recovered in searches carried out in east London and Newcastle on Thursday night.
Two empty containers labelled with corrosive warnings were found at an address in Newcastle, and forensic tests are checking if they held the substance used during the attack.
Mr Savell said: “In terms of our manhunt for Ezedi, we’ve got a large team of very experienced detectives leading the manhunt, using all the tactics that you would expect us to use, lots of officers out on the ground.
“We’re working very closely with colleagues from Transport for London, British Transport Police and our colleagues in Northumbria Police as well.
“Last night (Thursday), five search warrants were executed – two in east London and three up in Newcastle. We’ve recovered some significant and important pieces of evidence which will help with our investigation.”
Making a direct appeal to Ezedi, Mr Savell said: “Abdul, you clearly have got some very significant injuries.
“We’ve seen the images. You need some medical help, so do the right thing and hand yourself in.”
Maryam Zakir-Hussain3 February 2024 19:00
Clapham ‘acid attack’ eyewitness describes scenes as something from ‘The Hulk’
An eyewitness has described a suspected ‘acid attack’ in Clapham as scenes resembling something from ‘The Hulk’. A mother and daughter suffered potentially life-changing injuries after a corrosive substance was thrown in their faces. The mother, 31, and her three-year-old daughter, were rushed to hospital after the attack in Clapham, south London, on Wednesday night (31 January). Eyewitness Mohamed Ilyas told The Independent he saw a man get out of the same car as the mother and two children before throwing the youngest to the floor.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain3 February 2024 18:15
Events in Clapham should not be used to inflict more miseries on genuine asylum cases
Pressing questions must be asked about what went wrong with Home Office procedures in the case of Abdul Ezedi – but sexual crimes ought to mean automatic disqualification for would-be refugees:
Abdul Shokoor Ezedi is the subject of a nationwide manhunt in connection with a horrific assault in south London, involving a mother, two girls and some bystanders who attempted to intervene in the attack.
This must primarily be a police matter, to be dealt with through the criminal justice system, with the interest of the victims and the safety of the public central at all times.
A crime has been committed, and one of extreme violence that has, so it is said, left those affected with “life-changing” injuries.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain3 February 2024 17:30
Mother in Clapham attack remains in ‘critical but stable condition’
The 31-year-old woman injured in the attack in Clapham remains in a critical but stable condition in hospital having suffered what are likely to be life-changing injuries, police have said.
A close relative has claimed that Abdul Ezedi was in a relationship with the mother he is suspected of attacking with chemicals in Clapham on Wednesday night.
The unidentified relative told Sky News they were worried about Ezedi and vowed to “bring him in by myself if I have to”.
Abdul Ezedi is the suspect in an attack
(Metropolitan Police/PA)
Andy Gregory3 February 2024 17:15
Police receive dozens of calls with information, including possible sightings of Ezedi
Police have been told of possible sightings of Abdul Ezedi and have received dozens of calls with information.
“I want to thank everyone who has contacted police to share what they know,” Commander Jon Savell said in a new statement on Saturday afternoon.
“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.”
Andy Gregory3 February 2024 17:12
Police working with National Crime Agency to find Ezedi
The National Crime Agency has joined the search for Abul Ezedi, as police said they were working “around the clock” to trace the fugitive.
“Police and other agencies are working around the clock to trace Abdul Ezedi,” the Metropolitan Police said in an update on Saturday afternoon.
“The Met is co-ordinating the manhunt for the suspect who is accused of throwing a corrosive substance over people on 31 January in Clapham.
“The investigation team has received dozens of calls and is working with a large number of police services and other agencies. These include British Transport Police, Northumbria Police, the National Crime Agency and Transport for London.”
Andy Gregory3 February 2024 17:09
Photos of Ezedi after attack in Clapham
CCTV images of the Abdul Ezedi show the suspect at King’s Cross undergound station and Tesco on Caledonian Road on Wednesday evening.
(PA)
(PA Media)
Maryam Zakir-Hussain3 February 2024 16:45
Police give update on injuries of Clapham Chemical attack victims
The Police gave an update on the injuries of the victims of the Clapham chemical attack. A 31-year-old woman and her two children, aged three and eight, were injured in an attack in Clapham on Wednesday (1 February). “The mother remains very poorly in hospital and she’s sedated at the moment. We expect that those injuries will be life-changing,” said Met Police Commander John Saville. “The two young children that were with her, their injuries aren’t as serious as first thought, and they are not likely to be life-changing. They remain with mum in the care of the NHS, and we of course wish them the very best recovery that we can.” The suspect, Abdul Shokoor Ezedi, was last seen at King’s Cross Underground Station at 9pm on Wednesday, with what appears to be significant injuries to the right side of his face. The manhunt to find Ezedi continues.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain3 February 2024 16:00
Clapham attack suspect ‘known to victims,’ says Met commissioner
A suspect who threw an alkaline substance at a mother and her two children in Clapham, leaving her and one daughter with potentially life-changing injuries, was “known to the victims,” Sir Mark Rowley said. The Metropolitan Police has launched an investigation after a suspected corrosive substance was thrown at people in Lambeth on Wednesday, 31 January. Authorities are searching for Abdul Shokoor Ezedi, 35, over the “targeted” attack that led to 12 people needing hospital treatment. Ezedi is believed to have sustained significant injuries to the right side of his face, the Met said.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain3 February 2024 15:15
William Turner is a seasoned U.K. correspondent with a deep understanding of domestic affairs. With a passion for British politics and culture, he provides insightful analysis and comprehensive coverage of events within the United Kingdom.
