Clapham ‘chemical attack’ updates — Armed police raid pizza restaurant as frantic hunt for Abdul Ezedi continues
THE manhunt for Abdul Shokoor Ezedi has entered its second week as police raided a pizza restaurant where the fugitive allegedly worked.
The £20,000 reward is still on offer for information leading to the arrest of the suspect.
The Metropolitan Police has said two raids were carried out by armed officers at addresses in Newcastle associated with chemical attack suspect Abdul Ezedi in the early hours of Thursday morning.
One raid took place on a pizza restaurant where Ezedi reportedly worked for a short time, no arrests were made and the suspect remains at large.
Any members of the public who can help with information or material regarding Wednesday's incident should call 999 immediately ref CAD 7790/31 Jan. You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously at 0800 555 111.
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Who to contact
A £20,000 reward is currently available for information that leads to Abdul Ezedi’s arrest.
Any members of the public who can help with information or material regarding last Wednesday’s incident should call 999 immediately ref CAD 7790/31 Jan.
You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously at 0800 555 111.
Victim 'is first and foremost a devoted mother'
Close friends of the family told how the mum was "devoted" to her "beautiful, kind" little girls.
They said: "Our friend is first and foremost a devoted and loving mother.
"Her children are her life. She is generous to a fault and a wonderful cook and host.
"All she has ever wanted is a safe home for her and her beautiful, kind little girls.
"As their loved ones we are still coming to terms with the fact that this monstrous attack will change their lives forever."
Why was Ezedi given asylum in the UK?
Ezedi was granted asylum in 2020 on his third attempt - after he was convicted of the sex offence.
He reportedly arrived in the UK on the back of a lorry in 2016 and claimed to have converted to Christianity to back up his asylum bid.
A priest told the Telegraph that Ezedi had converted to Christianity and was "wholly committed" to his new religion.
Does Ezedi have a criminal record?
Ezedi was convicted of a sexual offence in 2018 and given a suspended sentence at Newcastle Crown Court.
The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed he was sentenced on January 9 of that year after pleading guilty to one charge of sexual assault and one of exposure.
He was put on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.
Victim wrote of her happiness in social media post before horror assault
The victim of the horrific Clapham attack has recently written of her happiness on social media before she and her children were left with life-changing injuries.
Close friends of the family told how the mum was "devoted" to her "beautiful, kind" little girls.
Who to contact
A £20,000 reward is currently available for information that leads to Abdul Ezedi’s arrest.
Any members of the public who can help with information or material regarding last Wednesday’s incident should call 999 immediately ref CAD 7790/31 Jan.
You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously at 0800 555 111.
Friends share photo of loving mum and daughters hurt in Clapham ‘chemical attack’
Friends of the mum and daughters hurt in last week’s Clapham “chemical attack” have shared a photo of the victims as they try to “rebuild their lives.”
As the manhunt for Abdul Ezedi continues, close friends of the “wonderful family” have set up a to ensure a “safe and secure future” for them.
The page reads: “Our very dear friend, a generous, sweet, loving mother and her two small daughters were recently the victims of a brutal chemical attack in Clapham.
“This attack has changed the lives of this wonderful little family forever.
“At what is clearly a shocking and terrible time, we simply hope that their burden of trauma is not added to by financial worries.”
What is an alkaline attack?
Alkalines are caustic meaning in concentrated form they can burn and destroy things – especially organic tissue.
Household items such as Domestos bleach, Vanish and Brasso metal polish are examples of alkalines.
If used in an attack, alkaline concentrate can be fatal.
That’s because they contain elements like sodium, potassium, rubidium, and caesium which sit above 7 on the pH scale.
When did Abdul Ezedi arrive in the UK?
Abdul Ezedi reportedly came to the UK hidden in a lorry in 2016.
He was turned down twice for asylum before successfully appealing against the Home Office rejection by claiming he had converted to Christianity.
Ezedi went on to be convicted of two sexual offences in 2018 but was allowed to stay in the UK because his crimes were not serious enough to meet the threshold for deportation.
Timeline of Abdul Ezedi’s movements
- 00:15 – Ezedi’s vehicle is seen in Newcastle
- 06:30 – His vehicle is then seen travelling into Tooting, London
- 16:30 – A further sighting of his vehicle is confirmed in Croydon
- 19:00 – He is then seen driving in Streatham
- 19:25 – Attack takes place in Lessar Avenue, SW4, before Ezedi makes off in his vehicle which crashes nearby. He leaves the car and runs off.
- 19:33 – Ezedi boards a train at Clapham South Tube Station.
- 19:59 – He is then seen leaving that train at King’s Cross Tube Station.
- 20:42 – He is then seen on CCTV leaving Tesco at 21 Caledonian Rd, London N1 9DX. He exits and turns right.
- 21:00 – Ezedi enters King’s Cross Tube Station and boards a Victoria Line tube southbound.
- 21:10 – He gets off at Victoria Tube Station and heads towards the district line.
- 21:16 – Ezedi boards an eastbound District Line train.
- 21:33 – Ezedi exits Tower Hill Tube Station.
- 21:47 – He is seen on Allhallows Lane, EC3. He travels through a passage to Cousin Lane. Then he turns right, walking towards Upper Thames Street.
- 21:51 – He then turns left onto Upper Thames Street (image released today)
- 21:54 – He travels along Upper Thames Street (image released today)
- 21:59 – Ezedi passes the City of London School on Pauls Walk EC4, heading towards Blackfriars Bridge. He passes the riverboat pier.
- 22:04 – He then passes the Unilever building and heads towards Victoria Embankment.
Police searched pizza shop and ‘found nothing’, manager claims
Armed police raided a pizza shop in the early hours of Thursday morning as their hunt for chemical attack suspect Abdul Ezedi continues.
The manager of the takeaway said: “This has come up from London.
“They came and searched and found nothing. That’s fine. We don’t mind. He isn’t here.”
Ezedi reportedly worked at the restaurant for a short time a year ago.
Who to contact
A £20,000 reward is currently available for information that leads to Abdul Ezedi’s arrest.
Any members of the public who can help with information or material regarding last Wednesday’s incident should call 999 immediately ref CAD 7790/31 Jan.
You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously at 0800 555 111.
Abdul Ezedi attacked mum and kids after relationship ‘broke down’, police claim
Abdul Ezedi allegedly lured a mum into meeting him before hurling chemicals over her after their relationship “broke down”, police said on Wednesday.
The suspect is accused of organising a meeting with the 31-year-old after he tracked her down to the two-star Clapham South Belvedere Hotel.
He then allegedly attacked her and her daughters, aged three and eight, in their car, police said.
‘I have never seen so many police in my life’
Workers were left shocked when armed police arrived at a pizza shop in the early hours of Thursday morning.
Armed cops raided the shop where Abdul Ezedi worked as they continued to hunt the fugitive.
The raid was such a surprise workers didn’t even have time to grab their coats.
One said: “I have never seen so many police as this ever in my life.”
‘Chemical attack’ suspect Abdul Ezedi pictured
More details as police continue raids in search for Abdul Ezedi
At around 11pm on Wednesday, police cordoned off a 200-yard stretch of road outside Best Bite, in Forest Hall, Newcastle.
Armed officers then yelled for anyone inside to come out.
The Metropolitan Police has said two raids were carried out by armed officers at addresses in Newcastle associated with alkali attack suspect Abdul Ezedi in the early hours of Thursday morning.
The force said it was a joint operation with Northumbria Police.
Cops raid Pizza shop where suspect worked as frantic hunt continues
Armed police have raided the pizza shop where chemical attack suspect Abdul Ezedi worked.
This was one of two warrants carried out at addresses in Newcastle in the early hours of Thursday as police continued their frantic hunt for the fugitive.
No arrests were made and Ezedi remains at large.
Who to contact
A £20,000 reward is currently available for information that leads to Abdul Ezedi’s arrest.
Any members of the public who can help with information or material regarding last Wednesday’s incident should call 999 immediately ref CAD 7790/31 Jan.
You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously at 0800 555 111.
What to do in the event of a chemical attack?
The NHS advises anyone involved in a chemical attack must call 999 and ask for urgent help, the NHS advises.
You should then douse the victim in running water, rather than use a wet cloth.
The water dilutes the chemicals, and so it’s important to keep refreshing with new, clean water, as quickly as possible.
HS England guidance instructs anyone who comes across a victim how to help.
Advice for public not to become ‘secondary victims’
Dr Adrian Boyle, a spokesman for the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, said it is important people rushing to help victims of acid attacks do not become secondary victims themselves.
He previously told The Sun Online: “It is vital to get across that people don’t become secondary victims.
“If you see someone exposed to acid don’t try and brush it off with your hands, or you’ll end up burned yourself.
“If the substance is in powder form just brush it off, using a piece of clothing to protect your skin.”
Clapham ‘chemical attack’ victim ‘too poorly to speak’
Police confirmed yesterday afternoon that the woman injured in last week’s alleged chemical attack remains in a serious condition.
The mum is in hospital and is “too poorly to speak” due to her “significant injuries”.
Suspect Abdul Ezedi is now wanted for attempted murder due to the severity of the woman’s injuries.
Hospitals remain on high alert
Commander Jon Savell, from the Met, said Ezedi’s significant injury could be “life-threatening”.
Jon Savell said: “Experts are clear Ezedi suffered a significant injury in the attack and is in increasing danger of an infection if he does not seek urgent medical attention.”
He added: “That will be extremely serious, if not life-threatening.
He added: “At our request, all hospitals remain on high alert. As time goes on, Ezedi’s health will continue to deteriorate.”
What happened to Ezedi’s face?
CCTV from last Wednesday night shows Ezedi with what police have described as very “significant injuries to the right side of his face”.
Met Police Commander Jon Savell addressed him directly, saying: “Abdul, you clearly have got some very significant injuries.
“We’ve seen the images. You need some medical help, so do the right thing and hand yourself in.”
Friends share photo of loving mum and daughters hurt in Clapham 'chemical attack'
Friends of the mum and daughters hurt in last week's Clapham "chemical attack" have shared a photo of the victims as they try to "rebuild their lives."
As the manhunt for Abdul Ezedi continues, close friends of the "wonderful family" have set up a to ensure a "safe and secure future" for them.
The page reads: "Our very dear friend, a generous, sweet, loving mother and her two small daughters were recently the victims of a brutal chemical attack in Clapham.
"This attack has changed the lives of this wonderful little family forever.
"At what is clearly a shocking and terrible time, we simply hope that their burden of trauma is not added to by financial worries."
Credit: Gofundme What is an alkaline attack?
Alkalines are caustic meaning in concentrated form they can burn and destroy things – especially organic tissue.
Household items such as Domestos bleach, Vanish and Brasso metal polish are examples of alkalines.
If used in an attack, alkaline concentrate can be fatal.
That’s because they contain elements like sodium, potassium, rubidium, and caesium which sit above 7 on the pH scale.