‘Acid’ assault suspect Abdul Ezedi was in relationship with sufferer

The suspected Clapham ‘acid’ attacker was in a relationship with the lady who he doused within the chemical alongside along with her two younger daughters in a horrific incident which has sparked a nationwide manhunt. 

Abdul Shokoor Ezedi, a 35-year-old Afghan asylum seeker with a earlier sexual assault conviction, has been on the run for 3 days after injuring 12 individuals with a corrosive alkaline substance in south London on Wednesday night time.

The Met Police revealed yesterday that the 31-year-old mom has been left with ‘life-changing’ accidents, whereas her two daughters, aged three and eight, additionally stay in hospital. 

Pizza store employee Ezedi, who was final seen boarding a Victoria line prepare at King’s Cross at 9pm on Wednesday, is described as having very ‘vital accidents to the appropriate facet of his face’.

An in depth relative of the Ezedi has now confirmed to Sky News that the attacker was in a relationship with the lady he unleashed the terrifying assault on. 

Given the intensive accidents to the appropriate facet of his face, they now wish to ‘discover out if he’s alive or lifeless’ and have pledged to ‘convey him in myself’.

‘His damage may be very unhealthy and he wants medical consideration,’ they mentioned. ‘I’ll convey him in on my own if I’ve to.’

The relative mentioned they will try to discover Ezedi by travelling up from London to Newcastle, the place the suspect is known to dwell. 

The suspected acid attacker arrived within the UK on a lorry in 2016 after fleeing Afghanistan. He was granted asylum within the UK in 2020, following two failed makes an attempt.

The relative described Ezedi as a ‘quiet’ and ‘caring’ particular person once they have been rising up in Afghanistan. He believes the assault is out of character.

‘We have to know the complete image, what actually occurred,’ they added.

 Ezedi was convicted of a sexual assault/publicity offence at Newcastle Crown Court in 2018 and handed a suspended sentence and an unpaid work order, which was accomplished two years later. He was additionally placed on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years. 

He was later granted asylum after a priest confirmed he had transformed to Christianity – regardless of buddies revealing he was a ‘good Muslim’. 

Referencing the intercourse offence, the shut relative mentioned he did not ‘imagine he would try this form of factor’. 

It comes after Ezedi’s brother Sebaghallah Ezedi, 22, additionally urged him to provide himself as much as police. 

As the intensive manhunt continues, a Royal Air Force helicopter believed to be serving to within the hunt for Ezedi was pictured circling the Hampstead Heath in north London.

New footage has additionally emerged of police raiding addresses in east London on Friday morning. The Met Police deployed roughly 120 officers, together with specialist items and the Territorial Support Group. 

In one video, police raid a house and inform residents: ‘Basically we’re right here as a result of we’re in search of somebody. But it isn’t protected so that you can be in right here.’ 

They later ask: ‘Have you seen anybody with an injured eye in any respect?’

When the locals requested why there have been officers in Hazmat fits, the police mentioned: ‘There’s a hazard in there that we now have to pay attention to. ‘

The Metropolitan police commander Jon Savell informed reporters yesterday that ‘vital and necessary items of proof’ have been recovered from raids, each in London and Newcastle.

Two empty containers labelled with corrosive warnings have been discovered at a Newcastle handle, and exams have been being carried out to see in the event that they held the identical substance used within the assault. 

Mr Savell mentioned: ‘In phrases of our manhunt for Ezedi, we have a big staff of very skilled detectives main the manhunt, utilizing all of the techniques that you’d count on us to make use of, numerous officers out on the bottom.

‘We’re working very intently with colleagues from Transport for London, British Transport Police and our colleagues in Northumbria police as effectively.

‘Last night time, 5 search warrants have been executed – two in east London and three up in Newcastle. We’ve recovered some vital and necessary items of proof which can assist with our investigation.’

People who know Ezedi say he was ‘a superb Muslim’ who purchased Halal meat, prevented alcohol and deliberate to return house ‘to discover a spouse’ previous to the incident. 

Authorities and leaders from the Church of England at the moment are going through questions after it emerged that Ezedi, who’s initially from Iran, was allowed to remain within the UK following two failed asylum purposes after changing to Christianity. 

In 2020 or 2021, it’s understood a priest vouched for his conversion and argued he was ‘wholly dedicated’ to his new faith – which aided his utility. 

The Church of England has been criticised up to now for aiding migrants from refugee backgrounds with their asylum claims in the event that they convert. 

Speaking to The Telegraph, Alan Mendoza, of the Henry Jackson Society counter-extremism assume tank, mentioned:  ‘Abdul Ezedi ought to by no means have been granted asylum standing within the UK within the first place following a number of failed makes an attempt and a sexual offences conviction.

‘That he was allowed to remain after an clearly false conversion to Christianity highlights the continued drawback of the complicity of assorted British establishments in what has grow to be a pro-asylum trade. The penalties of this are continuously devastating.’

The Church of England mentioned it’s not at present conscious of any hyperlinks to its church buildings.  

A spokesperson for the Church of England mentioned: ‘This is clearly a surprising and distressing incident, and our ideas and prayers are with all of these affected by it.

‘It is the position of the Home Office, and never the Church, to vet asylum seekers and decide the deserves of their particular person circumstances.’

An asylum assist employee who knew wished man Ezedi mentioned he was shocked by the violence he’s accused off.

The charity employee, based mostly close to Newcastle metropolis centre, checked his information and mentioned Ezedi was from Iran, not Afghanistan as had beforehand been thought .

He additionally mentioned the 35-year-old confirmed no indicators of psychological well being points or violent behaviour beforehand.

The charity employee, who requested to not named mentioned: ‘He has been coming right here for greater than two years, since I took over the undertaking right here.

‘At the time he was recognized as a destitute asylum seeker and didn’t have entry to Home Office assist.

‘He was registered as somebody who wants important meals and furnishings.

‘We checked out his authorized paperwork, what’s his standing within the nation. Over time, I knew him by his face.

‘He usually got here to the centre, each three, 4 or 5 weeks.

‘He appeared a peaceful particular person, sitting within the nook by himself, there was by no means, ever any grievance or any bother.

‘He by no means confirmed any aggressive behaviour.

‘When I noticed his picture on the information final night time I used to be shocked, I by no means anticipated such an individual can be violent to that extent.

‘He was final right here two or three weeks in the past.

‘We weren’t conscious he had been granted the appropriate to stay, we weren’t conscious he had a prison report.’

The undertaking supervisor didn’t find out about Ezedi’s conversion to Christianity.

He was frightened that the outcry concerning the case would have an effect on different, harmless asylum seekers.

The employee mentioned: ‘Unfortunately, there’s a stereotype about asylum issues today.

‘One incident like this could have an effect on lots of people and have a extreme affect on others who’re harmless, first rate individuals.

‘I might right away ask him to provide himself up, get medical consideration and say he must be held accountable for what he has performed.

‘Some purchasers right here have psychological well being points, they’ll generally react in an aggressive, violent method, however that is somebody you’ll by no means count on, that is surprising.’

Staff at a Kurdish grocery store within the Byker space of Newcastle the place the person lived informed The Times that he would are available each two weeks to purchase half of a halal sheep that he would then minimize up and put in his freezer.

They claimed he informed individuals he wished to return to Afghanistan to discover a spouse, and described him as ‘a superb Muslim’ who didn’t drink alcohol.

The Met has urged the general public to steer clear of ‘harmful’ Ezedi who was additionally harm within the horror that unfolded.

The power has launched CCTV footage of Ezedi shopping for a bottle of water in a north London Tesco, on Caledonian Road, in Islington, round an hour after the assault on Wednesday night.

He is accused of leaping on the ‘susceptible’ mom and her two daughters, hurling a corrosive alkaline substance from a metallic espresso cup leaving the lady screaming: ‘I am unable to see, I am unable to see!’ 

Horrified locals who ran out to assist described the victims’ pores and skin turning black and peeling away on contact with the extremely poisonous chemical, generally present in family cleaners similar to bleach and drain cleaner.

Several residents on the leafy road close to Clapham Common, the place homes fetch as much as £3 million, have been additionally injured as they got here to assist, together with 5 cops who all got here into contact with the chemical.

Police imagine the perpetrator had travelled round 250 miles from Newcastle earlier that day to hold out the assault on the lady, who was mentioned to be identified to him.

Distressing footage from the scene confirmed the 31-year-old mom and her eight-year-old daughter standing in entrance of the person’s automotive holding their palms to their faces round 7.25pm.

The suspect was then seen intentionally driving on the mom, hitting her earlier than getting out of the automotive to haul a three-year-old woman out of the again seat. 

Children’s minister David Johnston was pressed by Sky News on reviews the suspect within the alkaline substance assault in south London is a convicted intercourse offender who was granted asylum after two failed makes an attempt.

Mr Johnston mentioned: ‘I haven’t got his case file and I am unable to say something that may have an effect on the police’s investigation right here.

‘He continues to be at massive and what we actually want is anybody with info to come back ahead so that he will be apprehended, given he’s police’s key suspect.

He described the assault as ‘horrific’ and despatched his ideas to the victims. He informed Sky News: ‘What has been reported on this specific case will understandably concern I believe each member of the general public. Concerns me, considerations each member of the federal government.’ 

Asked whether or not it was a failure of the Government for somebody to be granted permission to remain within the UK after being convicted of a criminal offense, he mentioned: ‘This is why this authorities’s so decided to finish the asylum merry-go-round.’

Mr Johnston added {that a} ‘variety of circumstances’ of individuals interesting and claiming asylum after having their utility rejected. He added that the Rwanda Bill goals to cease this from occurring. 

Former immigration minister Robert Jenrick has slammed the choice to permit  Ezedi to stay within the UK as a ‘damning indictment’ of the nation’s asylum system.

Jenrick mentioned the UK’s asylum system ‘privileged the rights of an unlawful immigrant, who dedicated severe crimes’ over ‘the elemental proper of the British public to really feel protected and safe of their communities’.

He added the horrific assault was a ‘watershed second’ for immigration judges and the Government and known as for stronger border controls to convey the ‘farce’ of circumstances like Ezedi’s and others to an finish.

Rishi Sunak doesn’t assume ‘overseas criminals ought to have the ability to keep’ within the UK when requested about information {that a} intercourse offender hunted over a chemical assault was granted asylum to remain within the UK regardless of his conviction.

The Prime Minister’s spokesman informed reporters: ‘First and foremost on the assault, clearly, it was a horrific assault and the PM’s ideas are with the victims and their households.

‘And he’d like to increase his due to the emergency companies for the very fast response to the scene and the 5 officers who have been injured within the incident.’

The official declined to touch upon the suspect’s immigration standing throughout a dwell police investigation however mentioned that, extra broadly, ‘the PM would not assume that overseas criminals ought to have the ability to keep within the nation, placing the general public in danger’.

He pointed to motion the Government is taking within the Nationality and Borders Act and Illegal Migration Act.

Terrified witnesses described the suspect throwing the kid ‘like a ragdoll’ above his head earlier than smashing her down on the bottom.

One native mentioned: ‘The man was throwing the little woman on the ground like he was in a wrestling ring.’

Another horrified witness mentioned: ‘Like the Hulk, he lifted her and threw her on the ground, lifted her once more and threw her on the ground once more.’

Both the mom and her three-year-old suffered ‘life-changing accidents’.

The elder youngster, who was carrying her college uniform, is claimed to have suffered bruising and burn-like accidents. All three stay in hospital.

One witness described the mom’s horrific accidents: ‘Her lips have been utterly black. Her face appeared actually burnt, like stripped off principally.’

The Acid Survivors Trust International, an organisation that information info on chemical assaults internationally, mentioned that the heinous assault being directed on the younger mom and her two youngsters was ‘extraordinary’, as most are associated to gang violence. 

Jaf Shah, chief government of the belief, mentioned: ‘The scale of assaults and the focusing on of younger youngsters by a single perpetrator is extraordinary. It’s necessary to focus on that this isn’t commonplace, that is very uncommon.’

Shannon Christi was a type of injured. She recalled: ‘They have been screaming, ‘Help! Help!’ The baby was thrown to the ground. It was aggressive. He threw her down on the ground. Then he picked her up and threw her down once more.

‘That’s once I ran in and simply grabbed her, as a result of I could not watch.

‘I did not see something on her garments, however there was one thing on her coat that acquired transferred to me. She landed on her face. It was scratched, bruised.

‘I noticed the mom afterwards. Her face was crimson and sore. Her eyes have been closed and she or he was screaming: ‘I am unable to see!’

‘That’s once I realised one thing had been thrown at her. So I known as for somebody to get water. Her lips went black. It was throughout her face. At that time, my face and my arms began tingling.

‘My lips began tingling so I knew one thing was improper. I bumped into my home and washed my arms and my face.’

Another resident, Mohamed Ilyas, mentioned: ‘I noticed him driving into her. He smashed her with the automotive, then the child went and knocked on the door, saying ‘Mummy! Mummy!’, hitting on the door.

‘Then he acquired out the automotive, went into the backseat, pulled out the opposite little youngster and smashed her on the ground.’

After the brutal assault, the suspect tried to drive off in his automotive however collided with a stationary car. He then fled on foot within the course of Clapham Common. 

Nearby CCTV caught him sprinting by way of neighbouring streets in such a rush that he found a pace bump earlier than tripping on a kerb. 

The suspect later appeared at a Tesco retailer on Caledonian Road, Islington, at 8.48pm wearing a black hoodie and blue T-shirt.

The mom and two ladies got emergency first support at Clapham South Belvedere Hotel, a fancy used to deal with Afghan refugees the place they’d been dwelling, whereas detectives imagine Ezedi could also be heading to Newcastle, the place he has hyperlinks. 

The UK’s present coverage on asylum seekers states that they’ll declare asylum based mostly on their conversion to a brand new faith, if they’ll show they may face persecution of their nation of origin because of their new religion. 

Ezedi’s case has already been in comparison with Enzo Almeni, a Christian convert who had modified his title by deed ballot from Emad Al Swealmeen and blew himself up outdoors Liverpool Women’s Hospital on Remembrance Sunday in 2021 after months of planning.

Al Swealmeen was confirmed to have transformed to Christianity by Rt Revd Cyril Ashton at Liverpool Cathedral in 2017.

Abdul Shokoor Ezedi has not been seen at his handle in Newcastle for round six months, neighbours informed MailOnline.

He was final identified to be dwelling in a shared terraced home in Dilston Road within the Arthur’s Hill space of town.

Neighbours mentioned the home had a excessive turnover of tenants and few remembered him.

However Mohammad Hussain Nazary, 24, who works in his household’s meals store mentioned he recalled Ezedi dwelling within the space however assumed he was a single man.

He mentioned: ‘I’d see him across the space and he’d are available every now and then.

‘He’s an Afghan and I assumed he was single as a result of I by no means noticed him with a associate or household, he was all the time on his personal.

‘He appeared like an unusual innocent man, definitely not somebody you’d affiliate with one thing like this.

‘He was round rather a lot however I have never seen him in possibly six or seven months.’

A neighbour mentioned: ‘There are a number of long run residents on the street but additionally a few homes the place tenants come and go on a regular basis and that home is one in all them. There are new individuals shifting in very usually , you may’t maintain observe of who resides there.’

MailOnline revealed that Ezedi has extra not too long ago been dwelling within the Byker space of Newcastle in a hostel on town’s Wilfred Street.

It is run by Tyne Housing Association which goals to seek out properties for people who find themselves classed as homeless or susceptible.

A resident mentioned: ‘You’d see him strolling round through the day, normally on his personal and I do not recall ever seeing him with a spouse or associate.’

He visited the Justice and Peace Refugee Project each two weeks for toiletries and meals, in response to a charity employee on the web site which offers primary meals and clothes to asylum seekers 

Garage employee Michael Vinks, 37, works reverse the hostel. He mentioned: ‘He got here shortly in the past and chatted to my boss about presumably shopping for a automotive, nevertheless it did not come to something.’

Bilal Khan, proprietor of Billy’s Garage in Byker, close to Ezedi’s final identified handle, mentioned the alleged attacker had been ‘persistent’ when making an attempt to purchase a automotive off him final summer time.

Mr Khan mentioned: ‘He approached me final 12 months asking if I had a automotive on the market. We had one which he was keen on and I informed him the value. He was a really persistent sort of man, he would not let issues go simply.

‘He was coming and going again to me concerning the automotive however I informed him ‘that is my value’.’

Mr Khan indicated that Ezedi lived in a close-by midway home, and he most popular to not do enterprise with its residents. ‘I attempt to maintain my distance from individuals like that,’ he mentioned.

The negotiation over the automotive ended with no sale final summer time and Mr Khan mentioned he had not seen Ezedi since round Christmas or New Year.

Asked if he was frightened concerning the suspect returning to Newcastle, Mr Khan mentioned: ‘I do not assume so. If he is aware of the police and the media are after him then he’ll keep away, if he would not get caught.’

Mr Khan informed The Telegraph: ‘He’s a small, skinny man. There’s nothing threatening about him.

‘I’ve by no means seen him with anybody, so far as I might see he spent his days on his personal hanging across the road close to the hostel.’

Tory MPs have known as for the Government to reform its coverage on asylum seekers within the wake of the horrific assault. 

Miriam Cates, MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge and the co-chair of the New Conservative group of MPs, informed The Telegraph: ‘This surprising and tragic case is all people’s worst nightmare nevertheless it additionally exhibits the pressing have to tighten up our asylum processes.

‘This man ought to by no means have been granted asylum on this nation and we have to resolve how he was capable of be granted depart to stay.

‘This brings house the large safety risk that this nation faces from hundreds of unlawful migrants getting into the UK annually.’

Sir John Hayes, former minister and MP for South Holland and The Deepings, mentioned he can be writing to the Home Secretary, James Cleverly, asking for an pressing evaluation of the UK’s asylum guidelines.

‘This case offers a possibility not solely to evaluation the factors for granting asylum but additionally for a way we take care of those that are identified criminals.

‘It will not take a lot figuring out who has been right here and subsequently obtained asylum after which dedicated a criminal offense and the way we will deport all of them.’

Also calling for reform was Lee Anderson, the previous deputy chairman of the Tory occasion, who expressed a zero-tolerance view on asylum seekers who commit crimes of any sort.

‘It ought to apply whether or not it’s shoplifting or one other crime. That would make us a safer nation. They ought to discover him and ship him straight again. No messing about.

‘There ought to be a situation on any asylum being granted that when you commit a criminal offense, you return to your nation. He can not declare he’s being persecuted and in danger when he’s coming to the UK and committing crimes.’ 

Nigel Farage informed MailOnline: ‘This is a big get up name. He ought to have been deported after the primary asylum declare.’