After searching for Abdul Ezedi for three days, the police have requested that the public provide any information related to the suspected chemical attacker.
Police released two photos of white plastic bottles containing corrosive chemicals, potentially related to the assault on a 31-year-old woman and her two daughters last week.
Authorities from the Metropolitan, British Transport, Northumbria, and National Crime agencies executed warrants to conduct searches at two locations in east London and three in Newcastle.
At Ezedi’s residence in Newcastle, Northumbria police officers were captured on body-worn cameras entering the premises. The sparsely furnished white-walled apartment only showed a pair of shoes on a nightstand and a kettle near the kitchen sink in the video footage.
The Met’s Commander Jon Savell stated that the efforts to find Ezedi were ongoing and progressing quickly. He also expressed gratitude towards those who had reached out to the police.
The speaker stated that they have received multiple phone calls containing various details, such as potential sightings. Every bit of information has been documented and is being utilized in our investigation.
According to the speaker, law enforcement will utilize all means necessary to locate Ezedi and advises the public to stay alert and report any sightings of him to the police without attempting to engage with him.
A 31-year-old woman, identified as the partner of Ezedi by Sky News, is currently hospitalized with critical but stable condition due to burns from an alkaline substance. Her two daughters, aged three and eight, were also hurt in the incident but are not in as serious condition as initially believed. The attack also caused injuries to nine others who were assisting the victims.
Ezedi, a 35-year-old man from Afghanistan, reportedly entered the UK in 2016 by hiding in a truck. In 2018, he was found guilty of sexual assault and indecent exposure and received a suspended sentence. In 2022, he was granted refugee status after two previous unsuccessful attempts, allegedly due to his conversion to Christianity. Conservative Members of Parliament are demanding an inquiry into the circumstances of his asylum approval.
Hassan, the brother of Ezedi, stated to the Sun newspaper that he would turn in his older brother if he knew of his whereabouts.
The police in London and Newcastle have confirmed that Ezedi’s vehicle was present in Newcastle around midnight on Wednesday. Six and a half hours later, the car was spotted in Tooting, which is located in south London.
In the afternoon, the vehicle was spotted in Croydon and later the individual was observed driving it in Streatham at 7pm.
It is about a 10-minute drive from there to Lessar Avenue in Clapham where the attack took place. The street is opposite Clapham Common, a mixture of expensive Victorian houses and mansion flats built after the blitz. Residents were roused by sounds of shouting and a car smashing into other parked vehicles. One said they heard a woman shouting “I’ve got to get back to work, leave me alone.”
When it was evident that the 31-year-old woman and her children had been assaulted, individuals quickly stepped in to offer assistance, including Shannon Christi, a bus driver.
“I witnessed a man throwing a child to the ground as I ran outside,” she reported to the Press Association. “He then proceeded to pick her up and throw her once more. I immediately intervened and brought the child into my building.”
According to witnesses, a child ran up to a white car, which was believed to belong to Ezedi, and was knocking on the door before being assaulted. Christi observed the 31-year-old woman walking on the street and heard her saying “I can’t see”.
Some individuals stated that they thought she was sprayed with pepper spray, but it was later evident that a different, more corrosive substance was utilized, as other onlookers were also affected.
Employees from the nearby Dudley Hotel arrived to assist with providing towels and water.
According to reports, Ezedi supposedly left his vehicle and escaped. Oliver Whale, a resident in a nearby mansion block, stated that Ezedi ran towards the common but Whale did not witness the initial disturbance. “I believe two individuals pursued him, but they were unable to catch him. One of them was wearing slippers,” Whale mentioned. However, due to the lack of light, the pursuers lost track of the man believed to be Ezedi.
The police reported that the woman was assaulted at 7:25pm. It is claimed that Ezedi had reached Clapham South station at 7:33pm, at the intersection of the common, and boarded a train on the Northern line.
The individual arrived at King’s Cross station and departed shortly before 8pm. It is uncertain what they did for the next 45 minutes, but at 8.42pm they were captured on security cameras inside a Tesco Express on Caledonian Road, holding a sizable water bottle.
The Metropolitan Police have released images showing him with a visibly severe injury to his right eye and cheek, which is consistent with a chemical burn.
He would have been noticeable in any other location, but King’s Cross is bustling in the evenings and residents refer to that section of Cally Road as “old King’s Cross”. One business owner commented, “There are numerous unconventional individuals in this area, so he would have blended in perfectly.”
Gurpal Kaur, a resident of the area, was present in the vicinity that evening. She noted, “It’s quite bustling here with numerous pubs and establishments. Usually, there is a high volume of people around on most days.”
“I was unaware that he had visited this place. It’s difficult to determine who can be relied upon – many individuals are selfish and malicious.”
Ezedi walked back from the shop towards the train station, probably crossing the crowded piazza in front of the overground station and going back on the underground. Further CCTV footage released by police shows him wearing a blue high-tech T-shirt and carrying a black jacket, his injuries clearly visible.
Ezedi’s latest sighting was boarding a southbound train on the Victoria line. However, since then, there have been no further leads.
Source: theguardian.com
