Clapham attack suspect's brother urges him to turn himself in as hunt continues

Ezedi was being supported by Catholic church project before attack

Everything known so far as the search continues

With the search for Ezedi now in its third day, here is everything we know so far about the case.

• 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.
• Ezedi was convicted of a sexual offence in 2018 and given a suspended sentence, as well as placed on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.
• He is believed to have been granted asylum in 2020 on his third attempt and despite his conviction.
• CCTV from Wednesday night shows Ezedi with what police have described as very "significant injuries to the right side of his face".
• Raids have been carried out at five addresses both in London and Newcastle with potential evidence seized.

Woman who ran to aid "never witnessed anything so horrific"

A bystander who rushed to help the victim of Wednesday night's chemical attack said she had "never witnessed anything so horrific" in her life.

The woman, named only as Rachael, was first to call the police after the attack. “The screaming was so intense, it sounded like something serious was going on out there. That made me go outside,” Rachael told The Times.

“Initially I thought it was a car crash. But then I did see the man take the [youngest] child out [of the car] and I saw him throw the child — and just run off down the road. I called the police and an ambulance. I realised that the mum, her entire face was covered with the liquid and I knew it was some sort of acid or something.”

Ezedi was 'in relationship' with victim, says relative

A fugitive wanted over a chemical attack in South London had been in a relationship with the victim, his family has claimed.

A close relative of Ezedi's has spoken out as family urged him to hand himself in. The relative told Sky News they were "worried" for Ezedi's welfare and wanted to know if he was "alive or dead". Read more here.

(Metropolitan Police/AFP via Gett)

Bus driver saw victim screaming, 'I can't see'

One witness to the attack, bus driver Shannon Christi, told the PA news agency she was affected by the substance while trying to help the woman and two children outside her home.
She told of seeing a man throwing a child on the floor, before hearing the mother saying: "I can't see, I can't see." 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.

Russian model killed after calling Putin a 'psychopath' was strangled by her ex

The search for Ezedi remains ongoing today and police have urged the public not to approach him if seen, but to call 999 immediately.

East London residents interviewed in their cars

Residents in East London were evacuated at 2am on Friday and even stopped to be quizzed while in their cars.

One resident told Sky News how an officer told them: "We are looking for someone. It's not safe to be in there, just in case there's a hazard we need to know about."

(SKY NEWS)

'Tighter restrictions needed' on buying corrosive substances to prevent attacks – expert

Laws around possession of chemicals must be tighter as it is "too easy" to carry out attacks like the one which left a mum and little girl with "life-changing injuries" this week, a crime expert has argued.

Further ordeals will happen again and again unless punishments are stronger and it is more difficult to access acids and other chemicals, Dr Liam Brolan, a senior lecturer in Criminology, told the Mirror. Read more here.

Neighbour of Ezedi spoke of his 'persistence' trying to buy a car

Bilal Khan, owner of Billy's Garage in Byker, near where Ezedi had lived, said the wanted man had been "persistent" when trying to buy a car off him last summer.
Mr Khan said: "He approached me last year asking if I had a car for sale. We had one which he was interested in and I told him the price. He was a very persistent type of guy, he doesn't let things go easily." Mr Khan indicated that Ezedi lived in a nearby halfway house.

Ezedi's brother urges him to hand himself in

The younger brother of Ezedi has told him to hand himself in to police, saying he'd do it himself if he knew where he was.

“If I knew where he was, I’d turn him in for what he did,” the 21-year-old told The Sun. “I don’t know if he’s alive or where he is now. I saw him briefly last week. He wasn’t living with me. He was in Newcastle.”

Read more here.

Hostel raid was 'terrifying' with residents forced out of their rooms

Police raided the YMCA-run hostel in Leyton, East London, where Ezedi's brother Hassan Ezedi, 21, lives. It was one of five raids across the capital and Newcastle to find the suspect.
A resident there, Kami Bowden, 20, told the Daily Star: "It was scary because the police had Tasers in their hands. They were shouting quite loudly. We could hear them smacking on my door.

"Quite frankly I was crapping myself. They told me to walk backwards out of the room with my hands on my head. They took us to the other side of the road and said it wasn't safe to be in the premises."

(SKY NEWS)

Search enters third day as cops review significant evidence"

Good morning. The hunt for Abdul Shokoor Ezedi has entered its third day as detectives hunt the fugitive wanted in connection with a chemical attack on a mum and her two children in Clapham, South London, on Wednesday evening.

A 31-year-old mother, believed to be known to Ezedi, was attacked with a corrosive alkaline substance and remains "very poorly" and sedated in hospital, with her injuries thought to be "life-changing".
The injuries to her daughters, aged three and eight, are "not likely to be life-changing".
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."
He added: "Last night, 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."

Home Secretary thanks police for ongoing fugitive search

The Home Secretary has thanked those involved in the ongoing search for Abdul Ezedi over the last two days.

James Cleverly wrote on X: "I'd like to thank the Met and Northumbria Police for their ongoing work following the harrowing events in Clapham on Wednesday. If you have any information that might help the police's investigation, please come forward."

I'd like to thank the Met and Northumbria Police for their ongoing work following the harrowing events in Clapham on Wednesday.

If you have any information that might help the police's investigation, please come forward. https://t.co/GzkKDdfmyq

— James Cleverl (@JamesCleverly) February 2, 2024

Residents woken by early morning police raid for Ezedi

Pictures have been revealed of a police raid in East London early this morning, in which they demanded if people had seen a “man with an injured eye”.

The scenes, revealed by Sky News, showed officers waking up residents in a block of flats in Leytonstone. One is believed to be Ezedi’s brother, but he refused seeing him recently.

Officers are heard saying: “Come out slowly, put your hands on your heads and walk toward me. One by one, move to your right and keep going.

"We are police officers and we have a search warrant for this address. We are looking for someone. It's not safe for you to be in there."

Police outside the block of flats in east London

Clapham chemical attack timeline mapped

Abdul Ezedi remains at large and here is a map of his last known whereabouts.

Extra police officers seen on Victoria Line since Ezedi news

The Victoria Line has a large police presence than usual this evening, it has been noted.

The BBC says British Transport Police officers are onboard tube trains, as well as as stations along the route, including Oxford Circus.

Update on nine others injured in incident

Updates on nine other people injured in the chemical incident on Wednesday have been given by police.

This afternoon it was revealed the three women and a man who tried to help the injured family have been released with minor burns.

The five injured police officers have returned to duty.

Met Police remind public not to approach suspect

The Met Police have reminded members of the public not to approach Abdul Ezedi, wanted in connection with Wednesday's attacks.

Instead, reach for your phone and call 999.

Where was last confirmed sighting of suspect Abdul Ezedi?

In a new image released by the Met Police this afternoon, Abdul Ezidi is seen at King's Cross Underground Station. The picture is the last confirmed sighting after an earlier image of the suspect at a Tesco store.

The image is from 9pm at the station on Wednsday, January 31, where he boarded a Victoria Line service. He travelled there from Clapham South.

Cmdr Savell said: "Following the attack, we know he travelled from Clapham South Underground Station to King’s Cross Underground Station and I want to appeal for anyone who may have seen him travelling on this route between 7.30pm and 8pm.

“The latest confirmed sighting of the suspect is at exactly 9pm, when he is seen boarding an underground tube at Kings Cross station on the Victoria line southbound."

Abdul Ezedi spotted on the London Underground (Police Handout)

Cops issue eight-word plea to Abdul Ezedi

Police involved in the manhunt for the man who doused a mother and her two kids with a chemical have issued a direct appeal to the suspect.

At a press conference, Metropolitan Police Commander Jon Savell told Abdul Shokoor Ezedi, who has sparked a nationwide search this week after fleeing from the scene of the attack near Clapham Common in south London, to "do the right thing and hand yourself in". The 35-year-old, from the Newcastle area, who was described by Metropolitan Police Superintendent Gabriel Cameron as having “significant injuries to the right side of his face”, was last seen at a supermarket in north London on Thursday evening.

Read more here

Newest image of Abdul Ezedi released by police

Police released this new image of Abdul Ezedi this afternoon.

The newest image of Abdul Ezedi has been released by police (Police Handout)

Timeline of Ezedi’s movements on January 31

• 00:15 – Ezedi’s vehicle is seen in Newcastle
• 06:30 – His vehicle is then seen traveling into Tooting, London
• 16:30 – A further sighting of his vehicle is confirmed in Croydon
• 19:00 – He is then seen driving in Streatham
• 19:25 – Attack takes place in Lessar Avenue, SW4, before Ezedi makes off in his vehicle which crashes nearby. He leaves the car and runs off.
• 19:33 – Ezedi boards a train at Clapham South Tube Station.
• 19:59 – He is then seen leaving that train at King’s Cross Tube Station.
• 20:42 – He is then seen on CCTV leaving Tesco at 21 Caledonian Rd, London N1 9DX. He exits and turns right.
• 21:00 - Ezedi enters King’s Cross Tube Station and boards a Victoria Line tube Southbound.

Jon Savell's statement in full

Commander Jon Savell said: “First of all, I would like to thank the public and the media for sharing our appeals for information following the incident in Clapham, which I know has caused a great deal of public concern.

“We have received dozens of calls of possible sightings of Abdul Ezedi and every single one has been followed up and investigated.

“Fast-paced enquiries, led by senior detectives have been carried out in the past 24 hours to trace the whereabouts of the suspect. And I’d like to thank Northumbria Police, British Transport Police and Transport for London for their help as we progress this investigation.

“A total of five search warrants were carried out overnight, including at two addresses in east London and three in Newcastle.

“Two empty containers with corrosive warnings on the label were found at an address in Newcastle. Forensic tests are currently ongoing to see if the containers held the substance used in the attack in Clapham.

“I would also like to give you an update on the condition of the mother and her two daughters who were injured.

“The mother, aged 31, remains in a critical but stable condition in hospital. It is likely she has suffered life-changing injuries as a result of this incident.

"The two children, aged three and eight, also remain in hospital. However, I’m pleased to report that doctors have now assessed their injuries as not life-changing.

“The three women and a man who bravely came to the aid of the family, have all been discharged from hospital with minor burns. I am also glad to update that the five officers injured have all now returned to duty.

“Today, we are releasing a timeline of Ezedi’s movements on 31 January and we are appealing for anyone who may have seen him or who has any information about his movements to contact us immediately.

“Following the attack, we know he travelled from Clapham South Underground Station to King’s Cross Underground Station and I want to appeal for anyone who may have seen him travelling on this route between 7.30pm and 8pm.

“The latest confirmed sighting of the suspect is at exactly 9pm, when he is seen boarding an underground tube at Kings Cross station on the Victoria line southbound.

“As you have seen from the image we have released of Abdul Ezedi, he has suffered a serious facial injury. I’m making a direct appeal – hand yourself into police, not only so we can speak to you, but so you can get the urgent medical treatment you obviously need.

"Any members of the public with any information about the attack or the whereabouts of Abdul Ezedi are asked to call 020 7175 2784. I also ask anyone with any video footage, including video doorbell or dashboard cameras to please contact us immediately. I would also like to reiterate the fact that if you see Ezedi, call 999 immediately. He should NOT be approached."

Details of Ezedi's last movements

Metropolitan Police Commander Jon Savell gave details of Adbul Ezedi’s known movements so far.

He told reporters on Friday that Ezedi left Newcastle in the “very, very early hours” of Wednesday and travelled south to London. By around 6.30am, he was in the Tooting area.

He said there was a further sighting of his vehicle at about 4.30pm in Croydon and by about 7pm he was in Streatham. The “awful attack” took place at 7.25pm in Clapham. At 7.33pm he boarded a tube at Clapham South underground station.

By 8pm he was at King’s Cross tube station and by about 8.45pm he was captured on CCTV in Tesco on the Caledonian Road, pictured with a “fairly significant facial injury”.

He said there had been a “great response” from the public so far and, as a result, officers had established he got on a Victoria line tube at 9pm heading south. The force will publish more CCTV shortly, he added.

Five search warrants where executed

Metropolitan Police Commander Jon Savell said the manhunt for Abdul Ezedi continues after he was suspected of carrying out a chemical attack in London on Wednesday.

He told reporters on Friday that “significant and important pieces of evidence” were recovered in searches carried out in east London and Newcastle on Thursday night.

He 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, 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.”

How to get in touch with police if have information

If you have information as to his whereabouts you can reach the incident room directly on 0207 175 2784

Update on victims' condition

A mother injured in a chemical attack in London on Wednesday is sedated and “very poorly” in hospital.

A 31-year-old woman and her daughters, aged three and eight, were injured in the incident.

Giving an update on their conditions on Friday, Metropolitan Police Commander Jon Savell said: “The mother remains very poorly in hospital and she’s sedated at the moment. We expect that those injuries will be life-changing.”

He said the two children who were with her do not have injuries as serious as initially thought.

He said: “They are not likely to be life-changing (injuries). They remain with mum in the care of the NHS and we, of course, wish them the very best recovery that we can.”

Police confirm new sightings of Abdul Ezedi

Police say they are still searching for the sex offender and said they will release new images of him boarding a Victoria line train on the Tube.

Read more here

Met Police update on search for Ezedi - mother still ill in hospital

The Met Police has given an update on the search for Abdul Ezedi and started with how the three victims - a mother and her two children- are.

The mum is still "very poorly" and her injuries are expected to be life changing. The two young children are not as in as serious a condition as first feared.

Ezedi's reported help

It is not yet known which Christian denomination the person who reportedly assisted Ezedi was from.

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”.

Church of England says it is unaware of any links to Abdul Ezedi

The Church of England said it is not currently aware of Abdul Ezedi's link to any of its churches.

It comes after a report that sex offender Abdul Ezedi was allowed to stay in the country with a priest confirming he had converted to Christianity and was “wholly committed” to his new religion.

A spokesperson for the Church of England said: “This is clearly a shocking and distressing incident, and our thoughts and prayers are with all of those affected by it.

“It is the role of the Home Office, and not the Church, to vet asylum seekers and judge the merits of their individual cases.”