‘We will catch him, I’m wholeheartedly confident,’ says police chief
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A fugitive at the centre of a large manhunt for throwing an alkaline substance at a mother and her two children is a convicted sex offender.
Abdul Shokoor Ezedi left two of his victims with potentially life-changing injuries, with Tesco CCTV images showing him with severe burn marks down the right side of his face.
It has emerged that Ezedi was convicted of a sexual offence in 2018, before being granted asylum in the UK in 2021 or 2022 from his native Afghanistan. The 35-year-old had previously been refused asylum on two occasions but was granted leave to remain after converting to Christianity.
In all, 12 people needed hospital treatment after the “targeted” attack in Lessar Avenue, Clapham, south London, on Wednesday evening.
Ezedi who is believed to be known to the mother, is thought to have travelled down from Newcastle on Wednesday, and was last seen in Caledonian Road.
The woman, 31, described as vulnerable, and her three-year-old daughter, were still in hospital alongside her other daughter, eight.
Have you been affected by this? Email barney.davis@independent.co.uk
Suspect is a convicted sex offender
It has now emerged that Abdul Ezedi is a sex offender, who was convicted in 2018 of “sexual assault/exposure”.
This was before he was granted asylum in 2021 or 2022, after arriving in the UK by lorry in 2016.
It is also understood that he was granted asylum after two failed attempts.
Abdul Ezedi, who is the man wanted in related to the attack in London
Abdul Ezedi was ‘very persistent’ in buying car last summer
Ezedi is believed to have travelled down from the North East on the day of the attack, but detectives are unsure what led to the incident.
Bilal Khan, owner of Billy’s Garage in Byker, said the wanted man had been “persistent” when trying to buy a car off him last summer.
Mr Khan said: “He approached me last year asking if I had a car for sale. We had one which he was interested in and I told him the price. He was a very persistent type of guy, he doesn’t let things go easily.”
Mr Khan indicated that Ezedi lived in a nearby halfway house.
A white Hyundai was involved in the chemical attack
Fugitive had converted to Christianity to gain asylum
It is understood that Abdul Ezedi had twice failed to get asylum in the UK after arriving via lorry in 2016 from his native Afghanistan.
On his third application, he was granted asylum by the Home Office after a priest supported his claim that he had converted to Christianity and was “wholly committed” to his new religion.
He reportedly claimed his life would be in danger as a result and was granted leave to remain despite being convicted of sexual assault/exposure in 2018.
Minister calls to ‘end the asylum merry-go-round’
Children’s minister David Johnston was pressed by Sky News on reports the suspect in the alkaline substance attack in south London is a convicted sex offender who was granted asylum after two failed attempts.
Mr Johnston said: “I don’t have his case file and I can’t say anything that might affect the police’s investigation here.
“He is still at large and what we really need is anyone with information to come forward in order that he can be apprehended, given he is police’s key suspect.
“But on your broader point, it’s vital that we end the asylum merry-go-round that we have seen and that’s what the Safety of Rwanda Bill is all about.”
Police say suspect may have been known to them
Metropolitan police superintendent Gabriel Cameron believes that the suspect may have been known to them earlier as he was convicted of a sexual offence in 2018.
“At this stage I believe he may have been known to police but he’s not a local resident from London as far as I’m aware. He’s come down from Newcastle,” superintendent Cameron said.
Police released the image of suspect Abdul Ezedi last-known sighting from a Tesco store in Caledonian Road, in Islington.
“The image is taken from the Tesco store, where Ezedi is believed to have purchased a bottle of water. He left the shop and turned right.
“The image shows Ezedi with what appears to be significant injuries to the right side of his face. This makes him distinctive.
“If you see Ezedi, call 999 immediately. He should not be approached.”
Suspect ‘granted asylum on third go’ and ‘may be known to police'
Suspect Abdul Ezedi was granted asylum in the UK after two failed attempts, it is understood.
BBC News reported that he arrived in the UK by lorry in 2016, and was twice turned down for asylum before being granted it on his third attempt.
On Wednesday, he is believed to have travelled to London from the Newcastle area, the Metropolitan Police said.
Supt Gabriel Cameron said Ezedi may have been known to police previously.
He added that it was a “horrific crime” against a “vulnerable female”.
Legal crackdown on corrosive substances came in 2019
The law on corrosive substances was strengthened in 2019 - the first time they had been specifially mentioned in legislation.
The Offensive Weapons Act outlaws the sale and delivery of corrosive products to under-18s, bans delivery to homes - and lockers in the case of remote sales - and makes it illegal to possess a corrosive substance in a public place without good reason.
Those found guilty may face up to four years in prison.
Anyone using acid or other corrosive substances in an attack is guilty of assault.
Depending on the severity of the injuries, they may be charged with assault causing actual bodily harm or grievous bodily harm with intent, which is punishable by jail sentences, including life imprisonment.
Watch: Suspect known to victims, says Met commissioner
Clapham attack suspect ‘known to victims,’ says Met commissioner
A suspect who threw an alkaline substance at a mother and her two children in Clapham, leaving her and one daughter with potentially life-changing injuries, was “known to the victims,” Sir Mark Rowley said. The Metropolitan Police has launched an investigation after a suspected corrosive substance was thrown at people in Lambeth on Wednesday, 31 January. Authorities are searching for Abdul Shokoor Ezedi, 35, over the “targeted” attack that led to 12 people needing hospital treatment. Ezedi is believed to have sustained significant injuries to the right side of his face, the Met said.
Hundreds of attacks a year with corrosive substances
Police in England and Wales recorded 472 violent and robbery offences involving a corrosive substance in the year to March 2023, the latest available figures from the Office for National Statistics show.
There were 525 recorded in the previous 12-month period.
Recap: Witness grabbed girl from attack as boyfriend gave chase
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2024-02-02 08:36:21Z
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