Cops raid Newcastle dwelling in hunt for ‘acid’ assault suspect Abdul Ezedi

This is the surprising second police raided a house in Newcastle to hunt for suspect Abdul Ezedi following a sickening assault on a mom and two younger daughters. 

Police are testing containers discovered on the tackle which can have held harmful substances after they have been discovered with corrosive warning labels on them. 

Forensic checks are ongoing to see if the containers held the substance used within the assault, which noticed 35-year-old Ezedi throw ‘acid’ on the mom and youngsters in Clapham on January 31. 

Searches have taken place at two addresses in east London and three in Newcastle. 

Dramatic footage reveals the second police raided one of many properties in seek for the suspect who remains to be on the run days after the assault, sparking a nationwide manhunt. 

Ezedi was in a relationship with the girl who he doused within the chemical alongside along with her two youngsters within the horrific incident. 

Abdul Shokoor Ezedi, an 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 practice at King’s Cross at 9pm on Wednesday, is described as having very ‘important accidents to the correct aspect of his face’ and the general public have been informed to not method the fugitive.

After police beforehand stated the suspect and the injured mom have been identified to one another, a detailed relative of Ezedi has now confirmed to Sky News that they have been in a relationship. 

Neighbours beforehand stated Ezedi additionally allegedly tried to run the girl over and threw her three-year-old daughter on the ground ‘many times’.

Given the intensive accidents to the correct aspect of his face, the relative now desires to ‘discover out if he’s alive or useless’ and has pledged to ‘carry him in myself’.

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

The relative stated they’ll try to discover Ezedi by travelling up from London to Newcastle, the place the suspect is known to reside. 

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 stated he did not ‘imagine he would try this type of factor’. 

It comes after Ezedi’s brother Sebaghallah Ezedi, 22, additionally urged him to offer 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 models 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… nevertheless it’s not 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 stated: ‘There’s a hazard in there that we’ve got to concentrate on. ‘

The Metropolitan police commander Jon Savell informed reporters yesterday that ‘important and essential 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 tackle, and checks have been being carried out to see in the event that they held the identical substance used within the assault. 

Mr Savell stated: ‘In phrases of our manhunt for Ezedi, we have got a big staff of very skilled detectives main the manhunt, utilizing all of the techniques that you’d anticipate us to make use of, a lot of 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 nicely.

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

He additionally issued an replace on the victims. Mr Savell continued: ‘The mom, aged 31, stays in a crucial however secure situation in hospital. It is probably going she has suffered life-changing accidents on account of this incident.

‘The two youngsters, aged three and eight, additionally stay in hospital. However, I’m happy to report that docs have now assessed their accidents as not life-changing.

‘The three ladies and a person who bravely got here to assistance from the household, have all been discharged from hospital with minor burns. I’m additionally glad to replace that the 5 officers injured have all now returned to responsibility.’

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

Authorities and leaders from the Church of England at the moment are dealing with questions after it emerged that Ezedi, who’s initially from Iran, was allowed to remain within the UK following two failed asylum functions 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 software. 

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 suppose tank, stated:  ‘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 develop into a pro-asylum business. The penalties of this are regularly devastating.’

The Church of England stated it isn’t at the moment conscious of any hyperlinks to its church buildings.  

A spokesperson for the Church of England stated: ‘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 help employee who knew needed man Ezedi stated he was shocked by the violence he’s accused off.

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

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

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

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

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

‘He appeared a relaxed particular person, sitting within the nook by himself, there was by no means, ever any criticism 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 could 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 correct to stay, we weren’t conscious he had a felony document.’

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

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

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

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

‘I might immediately ask him to offer himself up, get medical consideration and say he must be held accountable for what he has executed.

‘Some shoppers right here have psychological well being points, they will generally react in an aggressive, violent approach, however that is somebody you’d by no means anticipate, 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 reduce up and put in his freezer.

They claimed he informed individuals he needed 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 keep away from ‘harmful’ Ezedi who was additionally damage within the horror that unfolded.

The drive 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 ‘weak’ mom and her two daughters, hurling a corrosive alkaline substance from a steel espresso cup leaving the girl 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 corresponding 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 girl, who was stated 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 fingers 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 lady 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 stated: ‘I haven’t got his case file and I am unable to say something which may have an effect on the police’s investigation right here.

‘He remains to be at giant and what we actually want is anybody with data to return 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 feel 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 stated: ‘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 software rejected. He added that the Rwanda Bill goals to cease this from taking place. 

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 stated the UK’s asylum system ‘privileged the rights of an unlawful immigrant, who dedicated severe crimes’ over ‘the basic 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 referred to as for stronger border controls to carry the ‘farce’ of circumstances like Ezedi’s and others to an finish.

Rishi Sunak doesn’t suppose ‘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 providers 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 reside police investigation however stated that, extra broadly, ‘the PM does not suppose 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 stated: ‘The man was throwing the little lady on the ground like he was in a wrestling ring.’

Another horrified witness stated: ‘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 little one, who was sporting her faculty uniform, is alleged 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 fully black. Her face regarded actually burnt, like stripped off mainly.’

The Acid Survivors Trust International, an organisation that information data on chemical assaults the world over, stated that the heinous assault being directed on the younger mom and her two youngsters was ‘remarkable’, as most are associated to gang violence. 

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

Shannon Christi was a kind of injured. She recalled: ‘They have been screaming, ‘Help! Help!’ The infant 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 after 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 received 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 he or she was screaming: ‘I am unable to see!’

‘That’s after I realised one thing had been thrown at her. So I referred to 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 fallacious. I bumped into my home and washed my arms and my face.’

Another resident, Mohamed Ilyas, stated: ‘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 received out the automotive, went into the backseat, pulled out the opposite little little one and smashed her on the ground.’

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

Nearby CCTV caught him sprinting by means of neighbouring streets in such a rush that he chanced on a velocity 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 that they had 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 will declare asylum based mostly on their conversion to a brand new faith, if they will show they are going to face persecution of their nation of origin on account of their new religion. 

Ezedi’s case has already been in comparison with Enzo Almeni, a Christian convert who had modified his identify by deed ballot from Emad Al Swealmeen and blew himself up exterior 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 tackle 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 the town.

Neighbours stated 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 stated he recalled Ezedi dwelling within the space however assumed he was a single man.

He stated: ‘I’d see him across the space and he’d are available on occasion.

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

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

‘He was round quite a bit however I have not seen him in possibly six or seven months.’

A neighbour stated: ‘There are numerous long run residents on the street but in addition a few homes the place tenants come and go on a regular basis and that home is certainly one of them. There are new individuals transferring in very repeatedly , you possibly can’t preserve observe of who resides there.’

MailOnline revealed that Ezedi has extra just lately been dwelling within the Byker space of Newcastle in a hostel on the town’s Wilfred Street.

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

A resident stated: ‘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 accomplice.’

He visited the Justice and Peace Refugee Project each two weeks for toiletries and meals, in keeping with a charity employee on the website which supplies primary meals and clothes to asylum seekers 

Garage employee Michael Vinks, 37, works reverse the hostel. He stated: ‘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 tackle, stated the alleged attacker had been ‘persistent’ when making an attempt to purchase a automotive off him final summer time.

Mr Khan stated: ‘He approached me final 12 months asking if I had a automotive on the market. We had one which he was focused on and I informed him the value. He was a really persistent kind of man, he does 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 preserve my distance from individuals like that,’ he stated.

The negotiation over the automotive ended with out a sale final summer time and Mr Khan stated he had not seen Ezedi since round Christmas or New Year.

Asked if he was anxious concerning the suspect returning to Newcastle, Mr Khan stated: ‘I do not suppose so. If he is aware of the police and the media are after him then he’ll keep away, if he does 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 may see he spent his days on his personal hanging across the road close to the hostel.’

Tory MPs have referred to 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 everyone’s worst nightmare nevertheless it additionally reveals 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 in a position to be granted go away to stay.

‘This brings dwelling the large safety menace that this nation faces from 1000’s of unlawful migrants coming into the UK every year.’

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

‘This case supplies a chance not solely to overview the standards for granting asylum but in addition for the way we cope with those that are identified criminals.

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

Also calling for reform was Lee Anderson, the previous deputy chairman of the Tory social gathering, 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 needs 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 large get up name. He ought to have been deported after the primary asylum declare.’