Dramatic scenes as emergency services attend scene of Clapham chemical attack
A nationwide manhunt has been launched to hunt down the man accused of a horrific acid attack on a mother and two girls in south London on Wednesday night. Three of the UK’s largest police forces are engaged in the search for Abdul Shokoor Ezedi.
Police have warned the public not to approach the man, and to call 999 if he is spotted.
A 31-year-old woman and her two young girls – aged three and eight – were seriously hurt after the alkaline was thrown at them on Lessar Avenue, near Clapham Common, at 7.25pm on Wednesday night. Five police officers and four members of the public who tried to help were also injured.
A total of twelve people have been confirmed to be wounded in the attack.
Here we take a look at everything we know so far about the police manhunt for Ezedi.
READ MORE London ‘acid attacker’ spotted as police swarm road near King’s Cross station
Who is Abdul Shokoor Ezedi?
Ezedi, a convicted sex offender, is believed to have travelled to London from Newcastle (Image: Met Police)
Police confirmed Ezedi, 35, is suspected to be behind the attack. He is believed to be originally from Afghanistan, the BBC reports.
They are still attempting to verify and find associates of Ezedi as the hunt for the man continues.
Detectives believe he is known to the family injured in Clapham. They added they were not yet clear on their exact relationship, however.
Superintendent Gabriel Cameron, giving details of the alleged attacker, said: “He has significant injuries to the right side of his face.”
Ezedi was previously convicted at Newcastle Crown Court in 2018 of “sexual assault/exposure”. As part of his sentence, he was given an unpaid work order. Once that was completed in 2020, he was discharged from probation supervision.
His asylum application was turned down twice before being granted on the third occasion, when Ezedi said he had converted to Christianity.
Where did Ezedi go after the attack?
A newly released image of Ezedi shows his “significant injuries” (Image: Met Police)
Ezedi is believed to have tried to flee the scene in a car, before crashing with a parked vehicle. He then escaped on foot in the direction of Clapham Common, it is believed.
Yesterday police released a second image of Ezedi, taken around 70 minutes after the attack in Clapham.
Police said Ezedi was last seen inside a Tesco Express on Caledonian Road, Islington, at 8:48 – around 5.4 miles (8.7 km) away from Lessar Avenue. He is believed to have bought a bottle of water in the shop before leaving and turning right on Caledonian Road.
Supt Cameron highlighted the “distinctive” injuries on the right side of his face.
Further updates from Superintendent Gabriel Cameron note the reason for the attack is not yet known. He said: “We know it is a corrosive alkaline substance. We can buy all sorts in the high street.”
The police representative had “no idea of the suspect’s motivation” but was “wholeheartedly confident we will catch him”.
How are police conducting the manhunt for Ezedi?
Officers are asking locals if they caught any images of the attacker before he fled (Image: PA)
There was a heightened police presence in the area near Caledonian Road. The last sighting was near King’s Cross, a major station in London with trains to Newcastle – where Ezedi is believed to have come from.
There is also an increased presence around the Byker area of Newcastle, where he is believed to live.
Residents and drivers in and around Clapham have also been asked to check their doorbell and dash cameras to see if they saw a man fleeing the area.
Metropolitan Police are working with Northumbria Constabulary and British Transport Police to locate and detain the man, and stress they “will catch him”.
Sue Sim, the former chief constable of Northumbria Police, who organised the hunt for murderer Raoul Moat in July 2010, said she had “23 different forces” working with her.
Ms Sim told the BBC: “When British policing works together, there is nothing better than that for catching criminality. British Transport Police (BTP) will be involved, Northumbria Police… because that is where he [Ezedi] is known to live.
“There will be information sent around to all forces with officers being urged on their daily briefings to keep an eye open for this man.
“Officers will be trawling through all the CCTV in any of the stations, in the area; checking up on any relatives and friends and making sure they track this man.”
Anyone with any information on what happened is encouraged to call 101 quoting reference CAD 7790/31Jan.
What has happened to the victims of the attack?
12 people in total were injured in the Wednesday attack that are currently known of. The woman and her two young daughters who were at the centre of the attack remain in hospital, according to the Met Police.
Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley told BBC Radio London some of the victim’s burns were “substantial”.
While the conditions are not believed to be life threatening, they could be “life-changing”, the Met Police said.
The five responding police officers who were injured were taken to hospital, and later discharged. Three women, two in their 30s and one in her 50s, were also taken to hospital after they were injured while helping the family.
They were discharged with minor burns injuries.
A man in his 50s who also helped declined hospital treatment for minor injuries.
