Moment police pull 'body of Clapham chemical attack suspect' from the Thames

21 February 2024 , 09:43

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Moment police pull 'body of Clapham chemical attack suspect' from the Thames

Shocking new footage shows the moment a body believed to be of Clapham chemical attack suspect Abdul Ezedi is pulled from the River Thames.

Ezedi, 35, had been hunted by police since January 31 after he was said to have hurled a corrosive substance into the face of a woman he had been in a relationship with, along with her two children, before fleeing into London.

Police and lifeboat crews can be seen removing the body from the water using a craft on Monday following an extensive search. It comes after members of the public revealed that officers had boarded a passenger boat around the time a body was found.

Police pulled the body believed to be Abdul Ezedi's from the River Thames on Monday (Sky News)

One man who was on a Uber Boat near Tower Bridge said police came on board for random checks at around 4pm, and told Sky News that officers were "walking about looking at people" and "making sure everyone was okay". He added: "Then the radio went for the boat, saying 'We can't stop there is someone in the water'. The police radios started going, police boats, the search and rescue pulled up next to us and the police hopped on [another boat]. [There was] panic on their faces."

Police have confirmed that they "strongly" believe the body to be Ezedi's. A spokesperson for the Met Police said: "At around 4pm on Monday, February 19, the crew of a passing boat reported they had seen a body in the water at Tower Pier EC3. The body was recovered by the Met’s Marine Policing Unit and has been viewed by detectives working on the investigation."

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Commander Jon Savell added: “Based on the distinctive clothing he was wearing at the time of the attack and property found on his body, we strongly believe we have recovered the body of Ezedi. We have been in contact with his family to pass on the news.

Ezedi was accused of pouring a strong alkali on his ex-partner, and injuring her two young children, aged three and eight (PA)

Police have confirmed that they 'strongly' believe the body to be Ezedi's (PA)

“As you may expect after a considerable period of time in the strong current of the Thames, formal identification is not possible visually, nor from fingerprints. We will work with the coroner on other ways to complete formal identification, such as DNA testing and dental records. That may take some time.”

He added: ”Our enquiries continue into the attack. I am pleased to say the condition of the 31-year-old woman has improved. She remains in hospital but she is in a stable condition and no longer sedated. We have still not been able to speak to her but hope to as soon as she is well enough.

Benedict Tetzlaff-Deas