Clapham chemical attack – newest: Police launch Thames search for suspect Abdul Ezedi near Chelsea Bridge

The search for Abdul Ezedi within the River Thames started this morning after police revealed yesterday that they consider he might have fallen into the water and died.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed that police boat searches had commenced at low tide on Saturday morning near Chelsea Bridge and the encircling space of the river.

Ezedi, 35, was final seen on Chelsea Bridge simply earlier than 11:30pm on 31 January – 4 hours after a mom was attacked by a powerful alkali in Clapham.

The Metropolitan Police say that after finding out CCTV and bus footage of the realm, no cameras captured him leaving, so their important speculation is that he went into the water.

While a has not been discovered, detectives say his demise is the “most probable outcome”. He was seen pacing up and down the bridge – the final recognized sighting of him – earlier than leaning over the railings.

7.25pm – The attack takes place in Lessar Avenue.

7.33pm – Ezedi boards a prepare at Clapham South Tube station.

8.42pm – He is seen on CCTV leaving Tesco at 21 Caledonian Road.

9pm – Ezedi enters King’s Cross Tube station and boards a Victoria Line Tube southbound.

9.33pm – He is seen leaving Tower Hill Underground Station.

10.04pm – He passes the Unilever constructing and heads in the direction of Victoria Embankment.

10.33pm – Ezedi is seen strolling south on Westminster bridge.

10.42pm – Ezedi was seen strolling west on south Thames Path in the direction of Lambeth Bridge.

10.55pm – He travels alongside the Albert Embankment approaching Vauxhall Bridge.

11.03pm – He crosses Vauxhall Bridge Road, into Grosvenor Road.

11.25pm – He crosses over Chelsea Bridge and enters Battersea Park.

11.27pm – He crosses again over Chelsea Bridge in the direction of the north facet. This is the final recorded sighting of him.

The Metropolitan Police stated Clapham alkali attack suspect Abdul Ezedi was seen to “lean over the railings” of Chelsea Bridge earlier than CCTV sightings of him ceased.

In a briefing at Scotland Yard, Detective Superintendent Rick Sewart stated: “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 in keeping 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.”

Earlier this week, a fundraiser launched on GoFundMe to support the family has so far raised thousands of pounds.

Friends of the woman have described her as “a devoted and loving mother”. The group said the victim was “a wonderful cook and host” and praised her neighbours for being “angels” by helping in the aftermath of the attack.

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 household 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.”

Abdul Ezedi was convicted of a sexual offence in 2018.

He averted jail after pleading responsible to costs of sexual assault and publicity, as an alternative being positioned on the intercourse offender register for 10 years and ordered to hold out 200 hours of unpaid work when he was handed a suspended sentence at Newcastle Crown Court on January 9 of that yr.

Ezedi was accused of grabbing the underside of a lady with out her consent in 2017, in addition to committing a intercourse act that very same yr, in accordance with paperwork detailing the indictment which had been disclosed by the courtroom to the PA information company on Tuesday.

Detective superintendent Rick Sewart stated Clapham chemical attack suspect Abdul Ezedi’s behaviour on the bridge has led them to consider he might have entered the water.

He was seen pacing up and down the bridge earlier than leaning over the railings.

Afterwards, cameras overlooked the suspect.

“We have tracked Exedi’s movements from the Tower Hill area where he alighted the underground and he’s walked four miles to the location of Chelsea Bridge,” stated Mr Sewart.

“He’s walked with purpose but he’s essentially hugged the Thames river line and when he has got to the area of Chelsea Bridge, his behaviour visibly appears to change in so much as he walks up and down the bridge.

“He pauses halfway down the bridge and he walks to and from the side of the bridge and can be seen leaning over the railings before there is a loss of sight.”