Police believe Clapham attack suspect ‘being helped by others’ – as manhunt targets ‘associates’

UK

Police say they believe the Clapham chemical attack suspect is being “helped by others” and are “targeting more of his associates”.

It comes as new images and footage is released of Abdul Shokoor Ezedi, who allegedly targeted a mother and two children with an alkaline substance in Clapham, south London, last Wednesday evening.

In an update on Tuesday afternoon, police released an image of the 35-year-old’s last known sighting at 10.04pm last Wednesday, when he passed the Unilever building and headed towards Victoria Embankment in London.

Commander Jon Savell said teams have been “working tirelessly through the night and into today” to pinpoint Ezedi’s latest movements.

“It remains our belief that he is being helped by others and yesterday we arrested a man for assisting an offender,” he said, referring to a 22-year-old detained on Monday.

“Our enquiries continue to target more of Ezedi’s associates.”

A £20,000 reward is on offer for information leading to Ezedi’s arrest, with police revealing the substance used in the attack was “very strong”, “concentrated” and “corrosive”.

The woman, who was known to Ezedi, remains in hospital in a critical but stable condition and may lose sight in her right eye, police said on Monday.

Meanwhile, her daughters – aged eight and three – have injuries not thought to be life-changing.

Previous photo of Abdul Shokoor Ezedi on left. The image on the right is of him on Wednesday. Pics: Met Police
Image:
Previous photo of Abdul Shokoor Ezedi on left. The image on the right is of him on Wednesday. Pics: Met Police

The manhunt, led by the Met’s Specialist Crime Command, involves a team of more than 100 officers and dozens more from forces across the UK, including in Northumbria and British Transport Police.

Ezedi’s details have also been shared to all police forces and ports.

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