10 February 2024 , 20:59
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Model Katie Piper has backed an online appeal to support the mum injured in the Clapham chemical attack. The Loose Women star, herself the victim of a horrific acid attack, donated £1,000 to a fundraiser for the woman, who has suffered potentially life-changing injuries. Katie also urged her 1.1 million Instagram followers to dig deep.
Sharing details of a GoFundMe page – which had last night raised more than £37,000 – Katie, 40, said: “Recovery is long and they need to reach their target and beyond.” Her generosity emerged as police yesterday trawled the River Thames for suspect, Abdul Ezedi, 35.
The Afghan refugee, from Newcastle, is thought to have doused his ex-partner, 31, and her two daughters, aged eight and three, with a corrosive alkaline substance. He went on the run following the January 31 attack but despite a huge manhunt, has not been found. Detectives now think Ezedi – who suffered a facial wound while carrying out the assault – entered the Thames at Chelsea Bridge, West London, about four hours later.
Suspect Abdul Ezedi at King's Cross underground station (PA)On Friday, they said CCTV footage showed him leaning over railings on the bridge at 11.27pm, but he then disappeared. It is understood he had walked alongside the Thames for almost four miles. Marine Policing Unit boats were out on the river yesterday. But former detective Mark Williams-Thomas said finding Ezedi could be an impossible task.
He told us: “If you go into the Thames, it’s not long before you’re in the sea. And we’ve got very high tides at the moment and very fast-moving water. “By 10 days on he’s going to be in the sea, unless he gets caught by something, like debris. “Don’t forget he was seriously injured… he may have been in such pain it’s possible he didn’t jump in the water, he fell in.”
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Head to the Gofundme page to support the mum injured in the Clapham chemical attackEzedi came to the UK in 2016 and was twice refused asylum. But despite convictions for sex offences, he was granted permission to stay in 2020 after claiming he had converted to Christianity. Ezedi’s ex was last night still critical in hospital. Doctors fear she may lose an eye. Katie, who is also a mum of two girls, suffered multiple injuries and blindness in one eye at the hands of her ex, Daniel Lynch, and his accomplice, Stefan Sylvestre, in 2008. Both were sentenced to life.