Chemical attacker Abdul Ezedi is seen grinning as he buys groceries

Footage has emerged of suspected Clapham chemical attacker Abdul Ezedi grinning as he buys groceries in Newcastle only a day earlier than dousing a mom and her kids with corrosive alkali. 

Abdul Ezedi, 35, was caught on CCTV shopping for 30 eggs from a Middle Eastern meals retailer close to to his house on Tuesday lunchtime. He is seen smiling at employees behind the counter earlier than paying in money. 

Ezedi, who lives close to to the shop on Byker Road, is believed to have arrived within the UK from Afghanistan on the again of a lorry in 2016. He was discovered responsible of sexual assault in 2018 however granted asylum after claiming to have transformed to Christianity.

Staff on the meals retailer, who requested to stay nameless, informed the Telegraph they have been ‘horrified’ that Ezedi had been linked to the assault as a result of he was generally known as a ‘good Muslim’. 

The day after the CCTV was filmed the pizza takeaway chef drove to Clapham, south-west London, the place he’s believed to have attacked a 31-year-old girl and her daughters, eight and three.

Police across the UK have been chasing the 35-year-old Afghan asylum seeker since Wednesday as a part of a significant manhunt. 

The girl, who suffered probably life-changing accidents, was recognized to Ezedi and stays in hospital in a essential however steady situation.

The hunt entered its fifth day at the moment with a £20,000 reward in place for anybody with info resulting in his arrest.

But Nick Aldworth, a former nationwide counter-terrorism co-ordinator, warned that Ezedi might already be lifeless. 

He informed BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: ‘I feel 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 individual… or it is not unlikely or inconceivable that he might have taken his personal life. There is subsequently a physique to be discovered someplace.’

Mr Aldworth stated the Met can be monitoring Ezedi’s actions by means of public cameras, which had been a ‘very efficient’ methodology in earlier instances. 

The power stated the final sighting of Ezedi, who’s from Newcastle, was at 9.33pm at Tower Hill Underground station in east London on January 31, shortly after the assault in Clapham.

Asked if the Met Police would now have a exact location for his whereabouts, he stated: ‘I feel they will have an excellent sense of what space he is in.

‘What you may’t low cost after all is that he has been picked up by an ally and moved some other place, maybe in a automobile. The cause they’ve provided a £20,000 reward is actually because there is a sense that any individual contained in the neighborhood would possibly nicely be harbouring this particular person.’

On Sunday, police stated the suspect used a ‘very robust concentrated corrosive substance’ within the assault.

Police investigators consider there are individuals who know Ezedi’s whereabouts and haven’t come ahead.

The Met has warned anybody discovered aiding him will face arrest.

It comes as questions have been raised over how the suspect, who was granted asylum within the UK after two failed makes an attempt, was in a position to 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 automobile 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 youngster to the bottom through the assault at 7.25pm, earlier than trying to drive away from the scene, crashing right into a stationary automobile 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 woman within the assault.

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

She stated: ‘I feel 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 achieved 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 search 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, folks do not prefer to acknowledge different folks.

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

‘But sure, if any individual 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 most effective help to the police in cases when folks go lacking. Yes, police will likely 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 you understand the place he’s.’

Asked by host Richard Madeley, she stated she had ‘little doubt’ Ezedi can 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 strains, departing on the eastbound District Line at 9.16pm, earlier than exiting the tube station in east London.

New footage launched by the power at the moment confirmed Ezedi strolling by means 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 employees. 

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 handy 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 ladies, age three and eight, police confirmed it an alkaline substance. 

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

The officer added that additional investigations have 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 acquired.

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

‘I need to warn anybody who helps Ezedi to evade seize – if you’re harbouring or aiding him then you may 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 critical harm that must be seen to however, extra importantly, you should do the proper factor and hand your self in to police.

‘This has gone on for lengthy sufficient.’

He stated the suspect might 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 – have 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 issues that an organised crime group may very well be serving to the fugitive conceal from the authorities.

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

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

The girl was reportedly dwelling within the resort in Clapham along with her two little ladies 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 huge 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 after they heard terrifying screams coming from outdoors. 

The pair, who requested to stay nameless, stated they noticed a person – considered Ezedi – attacking a ‘weak 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 doubt 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 will have everlasting harm.

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 ‘important and necessary items of proof’ have 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 exams 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 attainable sightings of Ezedi.

The power 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 ascertain his subsequent actions and finally 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 attainable sightings, and each single piece of knowledge has been recorded and kinds a part of our ongoing investigation.

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

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

‘I might additionally prefer 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 in a position to keep within the nation regardless of being convicted of a intercourse offence.

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 in every of publicity. 

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

Today a shadow minister has instructed 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 fallacious’ with a system that allowed the wished man to remain within the UK, Chris Bryant stated ‘sure’.

He added: ‘In the principle, on the face of it, if the whole lot that we’ve been informed is true, then it appears completely extraordinary that the British folks must be put at such danger from this individual.

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

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan stated this morning that the alkali assault was ‘probably not 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 attainable the suspect had been granted asylum after being discovered responsible of a sexual offence, Mrs Keegan stated: ‘I feel 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 in a position to keep on this nation. So, if in case you have a sentence of greater than 12 months, you aren’t allowed to remain if in case you have a prison report, and so forth.

‘We do not wish to have folks on this nation who’ve prison information.’

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

It has been reported that the suspect was in a position to achieve asylum after claiming he had transformed to Christianity.

The Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle stated in a press release it had discovered nothing to recommend he had turn out to be a Catholic however checks have been persevering with.

It stated: ‘Our ideas and prayers are before everything 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 information and central information and after consulting with clergy we’ve 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 venture says on its web site that it offers meals, toiletries and garments to weak folks.

It doesn’t get entangled with any asylum claims shoppers 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 function of the Home Office, and never the church, to vet asylum seekers and decide the deserves of their particular person instances’.

The case has echoes of that of Iraqi-born Emad Al Swealmeen, 32, who died from a blast and subsequent fireplace after his selfmade bomb detonated in a taxi outdoors 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 handy himself in. He stated: ‘Abdul, you clearly have gotten some very important accidents. We’ve seen the photographs. You want some medical assist, so do the proper 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 automobile 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 youngster to the bottom through the assault at 7.25pm, earlier than trying to drive away from the scene, crashing right into a stationary automobile 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 important 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 have been additionally handled and have now left hospital.

As nicely because the 11 folks 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 a right away sighting dial 999. To stay nameless contact Crimestoppers.