Clapham chemical attack suspect ‘jumped off bridge and drowned’ says new theory
Cops now believe that Abdul Ezedi may have leapt off a bridge and drowned, it has been reported.
Ezedi, 35, allegedly launched the horrific attack that saw a mum and her daugthers doused in a corrosive chemical and harmed a further eight people in total, on January 31. While police have released multiple updates about sightings in London, he has yet to be found. The police manhunt has turned national, with raids in Newcastle in recent days, and police have managed to track his whereabouts in the aftermath of the attack.
Ezedi criss-crossed London, before being last seen crossing back over Chelsea Bridge. However, the Sun reports that detectives now suspect he may have jumped off the bridge and died in the River Thames. One source said: "The investigation team believe Ezedi died soon after the last sighting of him on camera on the north side of the river."
His last known movements centre around Chelsea Bridge, with CCTV placing him close to the bridge just before 11.30pm. He was seen heading towards it, passing the Thames Water Building around 11.19pm. Around five minutes later he crossed over Chelsea Bridge and entered Battersea Park, but then crossed back over towards the north side at 11.27pm.
At a news briefing on Wednesday, Commander Jon Savell broached the prospect of Ezedi having fallen into the river. He reportedly said: "It is a possibility he has gone into the Thames. Sadly, we recover people from the Thames and it takes a while for it to happen. It is a very fast-flowing body of water. Nobody has seen anyone going into the Thames and no bodies have been recovered."
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The Afghan refugee had been in a relationship with the mum, before she had ended it, and he arranged to meet her, driving down from Newcastle on the morning of the attack. Ezedi then doused her and her children in the alkali chemical, suffering extensive injuries to his face in the process. He crashed his car after they fled, and made off on foot.
Ezedi suffered extensive injuries to his face
Abdul Ezedi at King's Cross underground station (PA)Recently, police raided two properties in Newcastle, including Best Bites pizza shop where it’s thought Ezedi worked. Commander Jon Savell previously said: "Today’s (Feb 8) early morning activity involved armed officers targeting addresses linked to Ezedi as our investigation continues to find this dangerous man.
"This is just part of our work, a team of 100 officers in London are continuing to progress a range of enquiries, linking in with other forces and agencies. This includes meticulous work to examine CCTV footage, and we have now traced Ezedi’s movements for another 30 minutes.
The scene of the horrific attack (Sky News)"Thanks once more to all those members of the public who continue to contact us with information, we are hugely grateful. Officers at the scene handed out 250 leaflets and spoke to many people in the local area last night as we appealed for any further witnesses to the horrific events of a week ago to come forward.
"We also visited local Afghan restaurants and spoke to members of the local residents’ association. People were pleased to see us and I would like to thank everyone who spoke to us. Please keep the calls coming – we are following up every single piece of information."
You can speak to the investigation team via our hotline on 020 7175 2784, or for an immediate sighting dial 999.
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