Scotland Yard has offered a £20,000 reward for information that could lead to the arrest of Abdul Ezedi, 35, the suspect in the Clapham alkali attack, which left a 31-year-old woman and her two daughters injured. Ezedi has been on the run since the incident, which occurred in Clapham, south-west London, five days ago.
Officers confirmed that a “very strong concentrated corrosive substance” was used in the attack. The substance is believed to be either liquid sodium hydroxide or liquid sodium carbonate, both commonly used in detergents and soaps. Sodium hydroxide is also found in drain cleaners.
The suspect, Abdul Ezedi, is described as having significant injuries to the right side of his face. The last known sighting of him was at Tower Hill station in east London late on Wednesday evening. Prior to that, he was seen at King’s Cross Station at about 9 pm on Jan 31, before boarding a Victoria Line train to Victoria Station. He then switched to an eastbound District Line train.
The attack left the woman with potentially life-changing injuries, while her two daughters, aged eight and three, were also hurt. Detectives are urging anyone with information on Ezedi’s whereabouts to come forward, and the reward is being offered for information leading to his arrest.
Detectives have issued a warning that harboring Abdul Ezedi, the fugitive wanted in connection with the Clapham alkali attack, is considered an offense. Meanwhile, the Afghanistan & Central Asian Association, a charity that assists Afghan nationals in the UK, has appealed directly to Ezedi, urging him to turn himself in to the police immediately.
Darius Nasimi, a representative of the charity, emphasized the importance of Ezedi seeking medical attention for his serious injuries and urged him to do the right thing by surrendering to the authorities. Nasimi emphasized that the situation has gone on long enough and urged Ezedi to take responsibility for his actions.
Experts believe that Ezedi may have received assistance in evading detection and could be experienced in sleeping rough to avoid being located by law enforcement. Ezedi’s movements have been difficult to track as he has been using cash and a contract-free phone.
The attack has sparked controversy regarding how Ezedi was granted asylum despite having a prior conviction for a sex offense. In 2018, he was convicted of a sexual assault/exposure offense in Newcastle and received a suspended sentence and an unpaid work order, which he completed two years later. Additionally, he was placed on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.
Despite his criminal history, Ezedi’s application to remain in the UK was approved by an immigration judge in 2021 or 2022. He claimed to have converted to Christianity and argued that he would face persecution if returned to Afghanistan.
The Metropolitan Police’s Specialist Crime Command, in collaboration with various law enforcement agencies including the Home Office, UK Border Force, UK Visas and Immigration, the National Crime Agency, British Transport Police, and other police forces, is intensifying efforts to locate Abdul Ezedi.
Commander Jon Savell issued a warning to anyone aiding Ezedi in evading capture, stating that harboring or assisting him would result in arrest. He emphasized that the inquiry line is staffed 24/7 by specialist detectives who are actively pursuing leads around the clock.
Analysis of the corrosive substance used in the attack revealed its highly corrosive nature, which will be compared to three empty containers seized from Ezedi’s address in Newcastle. Additionally, raids have been conducted at various addresses in east London and Newcastle, yielding significant pieces of evidence.
Former Chief Constable Sue Sim highlighted the importance of public cooperation in bringing an end to the manhunt, drawing parallels to previous high-profile cases such as the search for Raoul Moat. Sim emphasized the need for continuous appeals to the public to report any sightings or information related to Ezedi.
Sim noted that Ezedi’s familiarity with evading detection, potentially gained from his illegal entry into the country, could make him adept at hiding and moving around unnoticed. She also suggested that he may be accustomed to sleeping rough if he has experience as an illegal immigrant, indicating that he possesses skills to navigate difficult situations.