£20,000 reward offered in manhunt for chemical attack suspect on the loose
A reward of up to £20,000 is being offered for information leading to the arrest of Clapham chemical attack suspect Abdul Ezedi who has been on the run for four days.
Detectives have urged the 35-year-old from the Newcastle area — who is described as having very "significant injuries to the right side of his face" — to hand himself in after going on the run following Wednesday's attack in Clapham, south London.
They warned anyone found assisting him faces arrest. The Metropolitan Police said the substance used in the attack was a "very strong concentrated corrosive."
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".
Investigators believe some people know where he is but have not come forward and have today released more information about his movements. The last confirmed sighting of him is now at 21:33 on 31 January, when he exited Tower Hill Underground station.
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He had changed trains at Victoria, where he arrived on the Victoria Line at 21:10 and departed on the eastbound District Line at 21:16. As part of the renewed appeal, officers released CCTV footage showing Ezedi at the Tesco store in Caledonian Road on 31 January. In the video, he is seen walking through the aisles in grey jeans, a blue T-shirt and a black jacket. He buys a bottle of water on the self-scan checkout and then leaves the store.
Abdul Ezidi bought a bottle of water from the Tesco (PA)"Significant and important pieces of evidence" were recovered in raids at two addresses in east London and three in Newcastle, police said. They include empty containers with corrosive warnings found at one address in Newcastle, which are shown in new footage released by detectives. Forensic tests to see if the containers held the substance used in the attack are ongoing.
The Metropolitan Police said it has received "dozens of calls" about the manhunt, including possible sightings of Ezedi. The force also said it is working "round the clock" with British Transport Police, Northumbria Police, the National Crime Agency and Transport for London on the manhunt.
Commander Jon Savell said: "I am hugely grateful to the public for the significant number of calls that we have received. Your help is critical. A reward of up to £20,000 is now available for information leading to his arrest. I must warn anyone who is helping Ezedi to evade capture - if you are harbouring or assisting him then you will be arrested. Our inquiry line is staffed 24/7 by specialist detectives who are progressing enquiries around the clock. If you know where he is or have information that may assist call them now."
Abdul Ezedi, the suspect in the Clapham alkaline substance attack, at King's Cross underground station (PA)
An undated handout photo shows Abdul Shokoor Ezedi before his injury (Metropolitan Police/AFP via Gett)In an appeal directly to Abdul Ezedi, Darius Nasimi, of the charity the Afghanistan & Central Asian Association said: "Abdul, I am speaking directly to you. I want you to go straight to a police station immediately. You have a serious injury that needs to be seen to but, more importantly, you must do the right thing and hand yourself in to police. This has gone on for long enough. You can contact the charity if you wish and we can speak to you, and work together so that you can help the police with their enquiries. Abdul, please contact us as soon as you can, call 999, or go to a police station."
The victim and her daughters were confirmed to be residents of the Clapham South Belvedere Hotel, which other guests say is used as emergency accommodation. The Home Office is reviewing how Ezedi was granted asylum in 2020, having been prosecuted for sex offences. In 2018, he was convicted of sexual assault and indecent exposure and at Newcastle Crown Court was given a 45-week suspended prison sentence and placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years. His asylum application was twice rejected by the Home Office.
On his third attempt, an appeal to an immigration tribunal, he appears to have claimed that he had converted to Christianity.A priest vouched for his newfound faith and said he was “wholly committed”. He was granted asylum. A shopkeeper in Newcastle upon Tyne, where Ebezi was living in a hostel for the homeless, told The Sunday Times that despite his conversion to Christianity, as per his asylum application, Ebezi gave the appearance of still adhering to his Muslim faith.
Anyone with information about Abdul Ezedi is asked to call 020 7175 2784 or for an immediate sighting dial 999. To remain anonymous, please contact the independent charity Crimestoppers.
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