Met Police looking chemical attacker Abdul Ezedi say he’s possible useless

Alkali assault suspect Abdul Ezedi is believed to have ‘gone into’ the River Thames, the Metropolitan Police stated because it launched CCTV of his ‘last moments’.

The pressure stated on Friday its principal working speculation is that the 35-year-old had ‘gone into the water’, however no physique had been discovered.

Ezedi, from the Newcastle space, is accused of pouring a robust alkali on his ex-partner, and injuring her two younger kids, aged three and eight, on Wednesday January 31 in Clapham, south London.

The girl had been in a relationship with Ezedi, with the breakdown of the connection a doable motive for the assault.

A manhunt to seek out him has been ongoing for greater than per week, with officers raiding two addresses linked to Ezedi in Newcastle within the early hours of Thursday.

Earlier this week police stated the final confirmed sighting was simply earlier than 11.30pm on January 31, a couple of hours after the assault, as he crossed over Chelsea Bridge and entered Battersea Park in central London, then crossed again over the identical bridge minutes later.

In a briefing at Scotland Yard, Commander Jon Savell stated: ‘We have spent the final 24 hours meticulously following the CCTV, and it is our principal working speculation that he is now gone into the water.

‘We have checked out the entire out there cameras and angles, and with the help of Transport for London and CCTV from buses that had been travelling over the bridge on the related time and there’s no sighting of him coming off the bridge.’

‘At this time of 12 months, the Thames may be very quick flowing, very large and filled with plenty of snags.

‘It is kind of possible that if he has gone within the water, he will not seem for possibly as much as a month and it isn’t past chance that he might by no means truly floor.’

Last week, Nick Aldworth a former nationwide counter-terrorism co-ordinator with 36 years’ expertise within the police and navy, stated it was is ‘not unlikely’ Ezedi may have taken his personal life.

He informed BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: ‘I believe if we have not seen or heard from him within the the final couple of days, which seems to be the case, he is gone to floor, probably supported by any person… 

‘Or – it isn’t unlikely or unbelievable – that he might have taken his personal life. There is subsequently a physique to be discovered someplace.’

Questions have been raised over how the suspect, who was granted asylum within the UK after two failed makes an attempt, was capable of keep within the nation regardless of being convicted of a intercourse offence.

Police stated Ezedi left Newcastle within the early hours of Wednesday and travelled south to London and was within the Tooting space by round 6.30am.

His car was seen once more in Croydon, south London, at round 4.30pm and by round 7pm he was in Streatham.

Ezedi allegedly threw the youthful little one to the bottom throughout the assault at 7.25pm, earlier than trying to drive away from the scene, crashing right into a stationary car and fleeing on foot.

Minutes later he boarded a Tube practice at Clapham South Underground station, and by 8pm he was at King’s Cross Tube station.

Police say three members of the general public who got here to assistance from the household throughout Wednesday’s assault, two aged of their 30s and one in her 50s, have all been discharged from hospital with minor burns.

BBC Radio 4 additionally interviewed a lady who suffered third diploma burns to her foot whereas rescuing the three-year-old lady within the assault.

The girl, who lives close by, rang police and went with the lady to hospital. She took motion after she noticed the little lady being pulled out of the automotive and thrown to the bottom

She stated: ‘I believe everybody simply froze as a result of they did not realise what had simply occurred. In the spacxe of a second, he did it once more and that is when everybody tried to seize him, as a result of if nobody grabbed him, he would have completed it a 3rd time.’

Sue Sim, the previous Chief Constable of Northumbria Police – who led the manhunt for killer Raoul Moat, shared her ideas on the hunt to seek out Abdul Azedi.

She informed Good Morning Britain: ‘What you do have to recollect is, it’s totally straightforward to fade in a metropolis. People stroll with their heads down, individuals do not wish to acknowledge different individuals.

‘A metropolis is way simpler to fade into than the wilds of Northumberland the place Moat went lacking in 2010.

‘But sure, if any person is hiding him, hand him in instantly.’

Moat, who had a hatred of police, notoriously gunned down his ex-partner’s new boyfriend Chris Brown earlier than capturing PC David Rathband in Newcastle metropolis centre.

He was caught after seven days hiding in woodland close to Rothbury, Northumberland, when a lady watched him stroll previous her entrance door and phoned police. Moat later shot himself within the head in a showdown with police. 

Ms Sim added: ‘The public are the perfect help to the police in cases when individuals go lacking. Yes, police might be utilizing all their investigative and intelligence strategies. But the general public – they’re those who will deliver this man to justice.

‘Please name the police instantly if the place he’s.’

Asked by host Richard Madeley, she stated she had ‘little question’ Ezedi could be discovered.

Releasing the brand new details about Ezedi’s actions, officers confirmed the 35-year-old, suspected of chucking an alkaline substance over the household on Wednesday night, was final seen exiting Tower Hill Underground station that night time at 9.33pm. 

After fleeing the scene on Lesser Avenue within the south London suburb, Ezedi visited a Tesco Express retailer on Caledonian Road, the place he purchased a bottle of water. He then boarded a southbound Victoria Line practice from King’s Cross at 9pm. 

The suspect arrived to Victoria Station at 9.10pm earlier than switching tube traces, departing on the eastbound District Line at 9.16pm, earlier than exiting the tube station in east London.

New footage launched by the pressure at present confirmed Ezedi strolling by way of the Tesco retailer with what seems to be a big burn mark over his proper eye. He seems to be face-down on the flooring each time he passes a fellow buyer or member of workers. 

The man, wearing a blue t-shirt with a black coat and black denims, clutches onto a big water bottle as he walks out the door of the shop and turns proper in direction of the station.

The large reward for info comes because the nation-wide manhunt for the fugitive enters its fourth day. Officers re-issued requires Ezedi at hand himself into the police. 

Providing an replace on the chemical that the 35-year-old is suspected of chucking on the mom and her two little women, age three and eight, police confirmed it an alkaline substance. 

Commander Savell stated: ‘The liquid used within the assault was a really sturdy concentrated corrosive substance, both liquid sodium hydroxide or liquid sodium carbonate.’

The officer added that additional investigations had been happening to check the liquid to the big containers seized from Ezedi’s handle in Newcastle. 

Commander Savell urged anybody with info to contact police, including: ‘I’m massively grateful to the general public for the numerous variety of calls that we’ve got acquired.

‘Your assistance is essential. A reward of as much as £20,000 is now out there for info resulting in his arrest.

‘I need to warn anybody who helps Ezedi to evade seize – in case you are harbouring or aiding him then you can be arrested.’

In a direct attraction to Ezedi, Darius Nasimi of the charity of Afghanistan & Central Asian Association, stated: ‘Abdul, I’m talking on to you. I need you to go straight to a police station instantly.

‘You have a severe harm that must be seen to however, extra importantly, you could do the appropriate factor and hand your self in to police.

‘This has gone on for lengthy sufficient.’

He stated the suspect may contact the charity or go to the police instantly to assist with the enquiries.  

Last night time the National Crime Agency – the UK’s equal of the FBI – had been drafted in to assist the Met discover the 35-year-old who’s suspected of chucking the alkaline substance on the household on Wednesday night.

Officers are investigating considerations that an organised crime group could possibly be serving to the fugitive conceal from the authorities.

The 31-year-old mom, who was identified to Ezedi, stays ‘very poorly’ and sedated in hospital along with her accidents regarded as ‘life altering’. 

Her daughters, aged three and eight, have now been launched from hospital following the assault.

The girl was reportedly residing within the lodge in Clapham along with her two little women for a fortnight, thought to have been hiding from Ezedi. 

The seek for Ezedi is being led by the Met’s Specialist Crime Command unit who’re working with the Home Office, UK Border Force, UK Visas and Immigration, the National Crime Agency and British Transport Police.

Local police forces are additionally concerned within the large hunt for the person.

 It comes as witnesses proceed to relive the terrifying ordeal with a courageous have-a-go hero recalling how her associate lunged on the suspect as he tried to hurt the toddler. 

One couple ran out onto Lesser Avenue within the south London suburb once they heard terrifying screams coming from exterior. 

The pair, who requested to stay nameless, stated they noticed a person – regarded as Ezedi – attacking a ‘susceptible girl’.

They informed the Sunday Times: ‘We had no concept any substance was concerned; solely that the man was clearly intent on hurting the [three-year-old].

‘He then went to select the kid up off the street to do it [throw the child to the ground] once more, which is when my associate lunged in and tackled him, grabbing his leg and falling to the bottom within the course of like a rugby sort out.

 ‘I’ve little question that if my associate had not jumped in then the kid would now not be with us, and if our different neighbours hadn’t instantly taken the household and washed them down then their accidents would have been far worse.’ 

Both the person and girl have been injured from the assault. He has arm accidents, whereas his associate has ‘burnt each eyeballs’ and should have everlasting injury.

Ezedi was final seen on Wednesday night time at King’s Cross Underground station the place he boarded a southbound Victoria line practice, with what appeared like extreme burn son his proper eye. 

Over the weekend police stated ‘vital and necessary items of proof’ had been recovered in raids at two addresses in east London and three in Newcastle.

They embrace empty containers with corrosive warnings discovered at one handle in Newcastle, that are proven in new footage launched by detectives.

Forensic checks to see if the containers held the substance used within the assault are ongoing.

Since launching its attraction, the Met stated it has acquired ‘dozens of calls’ in regards to the manhunt, together with doable sightings of Ezedi.

The pressure stated it’s working ‘around the clock’ with British Transport Police, Northumbria Police, the National Crime Agency and Transport for London on the manhunt.

Commander Jon Savell stated: ‘The police investigation to determine his subsequent actions and in the end find him is continuous at tempo.

‘I wish to thank everybody who has contacted police to share what they know.

‘We have acquired dozens of calls with info, together with doable sightings, and each single piece of data has been recorded and types a part of our ongoing investigation.

‘I can guarantee the general public that my colleagues and I are absolutely dedicated to utilizing each out there instrument and tactic for so long as it takes to seek out Abdul Ezedi.

‘I’m at present urging the general public to stay vigilant and to contact police instantly if they could have seen Ezedi or have details about him.

‘I might additionally wish to reiterate that in case you see Ezedi, you must name 999 instantly. He shouldn’t be approached.’

Questions stay over how the suspect, who was granted asylum within the UK after two failed makes an attempt, was capable of keep within the nation regardless of being convicted of a intercourse offence.

Ezedi, who is assumed to have arrived within the UK from Afghanistan on the again of a lorry in 2016, claimed to have transformed to Christianity, which might have put him in danger following the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan.

The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed he was handed a suspended sentence at Newcastle Crown Court on January 9 2018 after pleading responsible to at least one cost of sexual assault and one among publicity. 

He was placed on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.

Today a shadow minister has recommended that Ezedi ought to by no means have been granted asylum into the UK. 

When requested by Trevor Phillips on his Sky News programme whether or not there’s ‘one thing unsuitable’ with a system that allowed the wished man to remain within the UK, Chris Bryant stated ‘sure’.

He added: ‘In the primary, on the face of it, if every part that we’ve got been informed is true, then it appears completely extraordinary that the British individuals must be put at such threat from this individual.

‘Of course it is one thing we would want to take a look at.’

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan stated this morning that the alkali assault was ‘not likely about asylum’.

She informed Sky ‘we have to get to the underside’ of why Ezedi was allowed to stay in Britain indicating the problem is being investigated by the Home Office.

Asked the way it was doable the suspect had been granted asylum after being discovered responsible of a sexual offence, Mrs Keegan stated: ‘I believe that’s one thing that a couple of individual is asking.

‘My understanding is the Home Secretary has requested for all the small print, however this isn’t actually about asylum,’ she added, earlier than happening to speak in regards to the victims and others impacted by the assault.

She continued: ‘Clearly, what we are saying is that anyone who commits crimes just isn’t capable of keep on this nation. So, you probably have a sentence of greater than 12 months, you aren’t allowed to remain you probably have a felony report, and so on.

‘We do not wish to have individuals on this nation who’ve felony data.’

Prime Minster Rishi Sunak’s spokesman stated on Friday that the PM doesn’t assume ‘international criminals ought to be capable to keep’ within the UK.

It has been reported that the suspect was capable of acquire asylum after claiming he had transformed to Christianity.

The Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle stated in a press release it had discovered nothing to counsel he had develop into a Catholic however checks had been persevering with.

It stated: ‘Our ideas and prayers are firstly with the victims of this appalling assault in south London.’

The diocese confirmed that Ezedi ‘visited our diocesan Justice and Peace Refugee Project, a charitable enterprise which assists a variety of people that come to us in want’.

It added: ‘After checking native parish data and central data and after consulting with clergy we’ve got no indication that Abdul Ezedi was acquired into the Catholic religion on this diocese or {that a} Catholic priest of this diocese gave him a reference.

‘We have no idea which Christian church acquired him nor which Christian minister gave him a reference.’

The mission says on its web site that it offers meals, toiletries and garments to susceptible individuals.

It doesn’t become involved with any asylum claims purchasers could also be pursuing, it’s understood. It is known that Ezedi visited it not too long ago.

The Church of England stated it’s at present not conscious of any hyperlinks to its church buildings, with a spokesperson including that it’s ‘the position of the Home Office, and never the church, to vet asylum seekers and choose the deserves of their particular person circumstances’.

The case has echoes of that of Iraqi-born Emad Al Swealmeen, 32, who died from a blast and subsequent fireplace after his home made bomb detonated in a taxi exterior Liverpool Women’s Hospital. 

He additionally claimed to be a Christian convert to help his asylum declare.

At a press convention on Friday, Mr Savell urged the suspect at hand himself in. He stated: ‘Abdul, you clearly have gotten some very vital accidents. We’ve seen the photographs. You want some medical assist, so do the appropriate factor and hand your self in.’

His brother Hassan Ezedi informed The Sun he would hand the suspect in if he knew the place he was.

The wished man left Newcastle within the ‘very, very early hours’ of Wednesday and travelled south to the capital and was within the Tooting space by round 6.30am, police say.

His car was seen once more in Croydon, south London, at round 4.30pm and by round 7pm he was in Streatham.

Ezedi allegedly threw the youthful little one to the bottom throughout the assault at 7.25pm, earlier than trying to drive away from the scene, crashing right into a stationary car and fleeing on foot.

Minutes later he boarded a tube at Clapham South Underground station, and by 8pm he was at King’s Cross tube station.

At 8.42pm, Ezedi was captured on CCTV in Tesco on the Caledonian Road, pictured with a ‘pretty vital facial harm’ shopping for a bottle of water, earlier than leaving and heading proper.

He obtained on a Victoria line Tube at 9pm heading south, the final confirmed sighting.

Police say three members of the general public who got here to assistance from the household throughout Wednesday’s assault, two of their 30s and one in her 50s, have all been discharged from hospital with minor burns.

Five officers who responded to the incident had been additionally handled and have now left hospital.

As effectively because the 11 individuals taken to hospital, a person in his 50s, who additionally helped, declined hospital remedy for minor accidents, police stated.

Anyone with details about Abdul Ezedi is requested to name 020 7175 2784 or for an instantaneous sighting dial 999. To stay nameless contact Crimestoppers.