Clapham chemical attack suspect believed to have 'gone into' Thames
Police have been searching for Newcastle's Abdul Ezedi since the attack in South London
Last updated 9th Feb 2024
Police investigating the Clapham chemical attack say they believe the main suspect, Abdul Ezedi has 'gone into' the River Thames
The Met police say that's their working hypothesis following his last sighting on Chelsea bridge, but no body has been found.
Ezedi, from the Newcastle area, is accused of pouring a strong alkali on his ex-partner, and injuring her two young children, aged three and eight, on Wednesday January 31 in Clapham, south London.
The woman had been in a relationship with Ezedi, with the breakdown of the relationship a possible motive for the attack.
A manhunt to find him has been ongoing for more than a week, with officers raiding two addresses linked to Ezedi in Newcastle in the early hours of Thursday.
Earlier this week police said the last confirmed sighting was just before 11.30pm on January 31, a few hours after the attack, as he crossed over Chelsea Bridge and entered Battersea Park in central London, then crossed back over the same bridge minutes later.
The Metropolitan Police said the body of Clapham alkali attack suspect Abdul Ezedi may "never" surface if he has gone into the River Thames.
In a briefing at Scotland Yard, Commander Jon Savell said: "At this time of year, the Thames is very fast flowing, very wide and full of lots of snags.
"It is quite likely that if he has gone in the water, he won't appear for maybe up to a month and it's not beyond possibility that he may never actually surface."
The Metropolitan Police said death is the "most probable outcome" if Clapham alkali attack suspect Abdul Ezedi has gone into the River Thames.
In response to a question at a briefing at Scotland Yard about whether police were willing to say that Ezedi was dead, Detective Superintendent Rick Sewart said: "I'm prepared to say that he's gone into the water and if he's gone into the water then that's the most probable outcome."
The Metropolitan Police said Clapham alkali attack suspect Abdul Ezedi was seen to "lean over the railings" of Chelsea Bridge before CCTV sightings of him ceased.
In a briefing at Scotland Yard, Detective Superintendent Rick Sewart said: "We've tracked Ezedi's movements from the Tower Hill area where he alighted the underground and he's walked over four miles to the location of Chelsea Bridge.
"He's walked with purpose, but has essentially hugged the Thames River line.
"When he has got to the area of Chelsea Bridge, his behaviour visibly appears to change in so much as he walked up and down the bridge - he pauses in the midpoint of the bridge, halfway down the bridge.
"Then he walked to and from the side of the bridge and can be seen to sort of lean over the railings before there is a loss of sight."
Mr Sewart added that this was consistent with "him going into the water".
The Metropolitan Police said the victim of the Clapham alkali attack is "very poorly and unable to speak to police".
In a briefing at Scotland Yard, Commander Jon Savell said: "Our thoughts obviously still remain with our victim who still is very poorly and unable to speak to police."
He added that police had received more than 500 phone calls into their lines on the investigation, executed eight warrants - three of which were armed, and assimilated more than 1,000 pieces of information on the case.
The Metropolitan Police said searches of the River Thames will be carried out for Clapham alkali attack suspect Abdul Ezedi.
In a briefing at Scotland Yard, Commander Jon Savell said: "Our marine support unit will be carrying out some searches of the Thames.
"But as you can imagine, at this time of year the Thames is very fast flowing. And our expertise, and the experts from the oceanography departments that are supporting us, would indicate that it may be some time if someone has gone in the water at this time of year for a person to surface.
"And sadly, they may never actually be found."
He added that police were in contact with a member of Ezedi's family to "break that news".
Commander Savell added: "Obviously, that will be shocking news for them and they will I imagine be naturally very anxious about what Ezedi is alleged to have done and what may have happened to him."