Armed police hunting Abdul Ezedi raid pizza restaurant 300 miles away from scene
Armed police may have been acting on a tip off when they carried out raids on two addresses linked to Clapham chemical attack suspect Abdul Ezedi – including his place of work.
Specialist officers with guns and aided by dogs carried out warrants in the early hours of Thursday at Best Bites pizza shop and another address in Newcastle associated with the fugitive. Ezedi has been on the run for eight days following the horror attack in southwest London on January 31 which left 12 people in hospital.
One woman, 31, was left with potentially "life-changing" injuries. Ezedi, 35, is wanted for attempted murder following the attack which police believe was motivated by the breakdown of a relationship.
The Met Police told the Mirror: "In the early hours of this morning, Thursday 8 February, armed police executed two warrants in Newcastle at addresses associated with Ezedi, including his place of work. This was a joint operation between Northumbria Police and the Met. No arrests were made, enquiries and searches continue."
Dramatic footage shows officers and marked cars outside the pizza shop in Forest Hall Road, Newcastle. Other pictures show damage done to a back entrance at the pizza shop where police gained entry. Witnesses say police were also covering the back of a nearby pub and Springfield Park. It's understood they spent time on a neighbouring industrial estate 'preparing' prior to the raid and were supported with a fire engine, as well incident support units, armed cars and ambulances.
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Police outside the pizza shop during the raid
Damage to the rear entrance of Best Bite (PA)Shopkeeper Harnek Rai, who works nearby, said he knew immediately why officers were there because of the huge nationwide manhunt for Ezedi. The 35-year-old watched the officers carry out the raid. He said: "We put the kids to bed and we saw loads of flashing lights outside at around 11pm.
"There were at least three cars blocking the road from both sides. People started filming it and we saw the owner come out and I knew straight away why they were there. I think someone has phoned the police saying Ezedi was upstairs and they've acted on that.
But a lot of people are saying he will still be in London because how would he get up here when nobody has seen him.
"We could hear someone say 'we are the police' and that's when they were entering the shop. They were here until around 2am but I wasn't surprised they didn't find anything. But they are just doing their job. They have to go to the places where he lived and worked. If he hasn't died he's probably down south."
Stephen Thompson lives opposite the Best Bite Pizza takeaway where Ezedi used to work. He spoke of his hopes that he would be found 'as soon as possible'. The 67-year-old told the Mirror: "I had the impression he was in the shop. We heard the noise overnight and looked out the window to see armed police and we could hear doors being kicked in.
"We heard lots of kicking and lots of dogs barking and the road was completely blocked. Unfortunately though they didn't find him. I thought that he was in the shop because when you see armed police like that it makes you think he must be in there. The police must have had an inkling and a tip-off that he might have been there but it wasn't true.
Armed officers and marked cars were seen outside the shop (North News)Somebody said he lived next door to me but that was just a rumour. I've lived here 15 years and have never seen him but he did work at the takeaway. I'm disappointed he wasn't found but they'll keep looking. I hope they get him as soon as possible."
The Sun reports at around 11pm police cordoned off a 200-yard stretch of road outside the pizza shop. A short time later armed officers donning masks yelled for anyone inside the pizza and grill house to come out. They then used a battering ram to gain entry to an upstairs flat.
Detectives spent two hours searching the takeaway and the flat and removed a number of items in evidence bags including the hard drive from the shop's CCTV system while the staff shivered outside in freezing temperatures.
Staff didn't even have time to get their coats before being ushered outside. Police searched for Ezedi or any evidence of where he has been hiding since the chemical attack 290 miles away. One said: "I have never seen so many police as this ever in my life." The police left around 2am, according to reports.
The manager of the takeaway told the Sun: "This has come up from London. They came and searched and found nothing. That's fine. We don't mind. He isn't here." Staff have claimed Ezedi only worked at the takeaway for a few days a year ago. But locals say he has been there more recently and had worked there for about a year. A barber, who works near the takeaway, recognised Ezedi when she saw his picture in the news. She said he worked in the kitchen. She told the ChronicleLive: "He used to cook in there."
The 31-year-old victim of the chemical attack is believed to be known to the alleged culprit, and could lose sight in one eye. Her two daughters, aged three and eight, were also taken to hospital but have since been released. The remaining casualties – including brave members of the public who stepped in, and police officers – are not thought to have sustained serious injuries.
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Police outside Best Bite Pizza on Forest Hall Road in Newcastle (Newcastle Chronicle)A 22-year-old man was earlier this week arrested on suspicion of helping the suspect. It comes after police last night released CCTV of Ezedi walking through a crowd just hours after the attack, which left a mum with "life-changing injuries".
He is seen walking south on Westminster Bridge in central London at 10.33pm, three hours after the attack approximately four miles away. He had a "significant facial injury," which he is believed to still have, as police believe he hasn't visited hospital since the attack.
Ezedi, who is a convicted sex offender, walked across Westminster Bridge, down the steps on the London Eye side towards Lambeth and then walked west on south Thames Path towards Lambeth Bridge. He travelled along the Albert Embankment approaching Vauxhall Bridge, and then crossed the bridge. His last known movement was on Grosvenor Road, near Vauxhall Bridge, at 11.03pm.
Detectives said they have a clearer understanding of Ezedi's motive - he had been in a relationship with the 31-year-old victim but it broke down. She and her two daughters were rushed to hospital, but the children have since been released.
Ezedi is understood to have worked at Best Bite for around a year (PA)Commander Jon Savell, of Metropolitan Police, said: "Our investigation team has been working tirelessly to piece together information to discover what happened. While we still retain an open mind, it appears the motivation for this truly awful attack is the breakdown of a relationship.
"The woman remains in a critical but stable condition in hospital. As we know she has very serious injuries and remains sedated and so poorly we haven't yet been able to speak to her. This was a senseless and cruel attack by a dangerous man – we urge anyone with information about Ezedi's whereabouts to contact us as matter of urgency. He is wanted for attempted murder."
Police understand Ezedi was in a relationship with the victim after analysing the man's mobile phone, found in a car at the scene of the attack. He is alleged to have travelled 280 miles to Clapham from Newcastle. Detailed and lengthy analysis of CCTV continues to track Ezedi's next movements on the night of the attack. The manhunt is being led and co-ordinated by the Specialist Crime Command, with a team of more than 100 officers dedicated to the investigation from across a range of areas and specialisms including experienced detectives through to local neighbourhood officers.
Ezedi in a Tesco store on Caledonian Road in the Islington area of north London (Metropolitan Police / SWNS)Commander Savell added: "We have worked with the National Crime Agency to commission medical experts to provide an assessment of Ezedi's injuries. Those experts are clear Ezedi suffered a significant injury in the attack and is in increasing danger of an infection if he does not seek urgent medical attention. That will be extremely serious, if not life-threatening.
"To the best of our knowledge he has not been to hospital or sought professional medical help. At our request, all hospitals remain on high-alert. As time goes on, Ezedi's health will continue to deteriorate. Ezedi – hand yourself into police, not only so we can speak to you, but so you can get the urgent medical treatment you obviously need."
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