Body found in River Thames in manhunt for Clapham chemical attack suspect Abdul Ezedi

For free actual time breaking information alerts despatched straight to your inbox signal as much as our breaking information emails

Sign as much as our free breaking information emails

A physique has been found in the River Thames by police looking out for the Clapham chemical attack suspect Abdul Ezedi, virtually three weeks after a significant manhunt was launched.

The Metropolitan Police mentioned it “strongly believes” the physique pulled from the water in central London on Monday is Ezedi’s, though formal visible identification is inconceivable after weeks spent dragged by the robust present of the Thames.

The physique was recovered greater than 4 miles away from the final sighting of the needed man after the crew of a passing boat reported they’d seen a physique in the water at Tower Pier in Tower Hill at round 4pm.

It comes after a significant manhunt was launched when the 35-year-old, from the Newcastle space, went on the run, after allegedly pouring a powerful, corrosive, alkaline substance on a 31-year-old lady and her two younger daughters in Clapham, south London on 31 January.

Following days of looking out, the Metropolitan Police introduced that its most important working speculation was that Ezedi had “gone into” the river after being seen on CCTV leaning over the railings of Chelsea Bridge in west London on the night time of the attack in what was the final sighting of the suspect.

The manhunt subsequently targeted on an space of the Thames between Vauxhall and Chelsea bridges, with crowds seen watching a circling police boat flashing lights and pausing beside a small ship earlier than transferring off once more.

After 20 days of intensive looking out, a physique was recovered by the Met’s Marine Policing Unit and has been seen by detectives engaged on the investigation.

Ezedi is a convicted intercourse offender who was granted asylum in the UK on his third try after changing to Christianity.

As passersby tried to intervene, a complete of 12 folks had been injured in the attack on Lessar Avenue at round 7.25pm, throughout which Ezedi was alleged to have thrown one of many kids to the bottom. He crashed right into a stationary automobile whereas trying to drive away from the scene, earlier than fleeing on foot.

Police beforehand mentioned the final confirmed sighting was just a few hours after the attack, simply earlier than 11.30pm, as he crossed over Chelsea Bridge and entered Battersea Park in central London, then crossed again over the identical bridge minutes later.

The lady stays in hospital however in a secure situation, having endured important facial accidents.She is Ezedi’s ex-partner, with the breakdown of the connection thought of a potential motive for the attack. Her two daughters, aged eight and three, who aren’t Ezedi’s kids, have been discharged from hospital.

Ezedi suffered important facial accidents in the incident, which police beforehand mentioned may have proved deadly if left untreated.

In their search for him, officers raided two addresses linked to Ezedi in Newcastle in the early hours of Thursday. The drive had additionally supplied a £20,000 reward for anybody with data about Ezedi’s whereabouts. They beforehand mentioned they believed that Ezedi had come to hurt or was being hidden by somebody.

More follows on this breaking information story…