A man who allegedly attacked a woman and her two children with a corrosive substance in Clapham, south London, last night has been named by Met Police.
Abdul Ezedi, believed to be from the Newcastle area, is alleged to have thrown an alkaline substance at the mother and her two daughters in a “targeted” attack which saw a total of 11 people taken to hospital.
Officers have described Ezedi as being around 35 years old.
Following the attack, a huge manhunt was launched which included several forces. The manhunt remains underway.
London chemical attacker travelled from Newcastle
PA/Met Police
Ezedi was last seen in Caledonian Road in North London. He has injuries to the right side of his face.
Police said in his attempt to drive away from the scene, the attacker crashed into a stationary vehicle and made off on foot.
Superintendent Gabriel Cameron said police were working with other agencies to locate Abdul Ezedi.
“So we’re liaising with other partners agencies,” he said.
“We’re working alongside Northumbria, we believe the male is from the Newcastle area. And he could be going back there, he may not be, but he could be.
“British Transport Police are also working alongside us as well. So we are working in collaboration with other agencies to try and locate this male.”
The mother, who is believed to be known to Ezedi, has been treated in hospital with her two daughters, three and eight, and remains in stable condition.
One of the children and the mother are reported to have suffered potentially life-changing injuries.
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Abdul Ezedi has been named as a suspect
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London attack: nine injured in south LondonPASuperintendent Gabriel Cameron added: “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.”
He said that it was a “horrific crime” against a “vulnerable female”.
He added: “We will catch him, I am wholeheartedly confident.”
Three members of the public who came to the aid of the family, two in their 30s and one in her 50s, have all been discharged from hospital with minor burns injuries.
One witness to the attack, bus driver Shannon Christi, said she was affected by the substance while trying to help the woman and two children outside her home.
She said: “I heard a bang and I heard someone saying ‘help’.
“I run outside and as I run outside I’ve seen this guy throwing a child on the floor, he picked her up and threw her again.
London chemical attack: Car abandoned in road following attack
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Superintendent Gabriel Cameron gave a statement on the chemical attack
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“So, at that point I ran in and I grabbed her and took her into my block.”
Christi said the three-year-old girl she had helped at the scene was crying and did not give her name, meanwhile the older child stood outside her flat block and was also in tears.
She added: “I’ve then seen her mum walking up the road again saying ‘I can’t see, I can’t see’.
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley described the incident as a “ghastly attack”.
London chemical attack latest: Met Police have urged the public to dial 999 if they spot Ezedi
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“Fortunately, attacks using acid and chemicals are exceedingly rare. We did have a spate of them two or three years ago, you might remember,” he told the BBC.
“It’s not something we’ve seen much of at all recently, I’m pleased to say.”
Met Police said in a statment: “We are working with partner agencies and forces including the British Transport Police to locate and arrest him.
“If you see Ezedi, call 999 immediately. He should NOT be approached.”
