Clapham chemical attack – latest: Police launch Thames search for Abdul Ezzedi near Chelsea Bridge

A search for Abdul Ezzedi in the River Thames began this morning after police revealed yesterday that they believe he may have died after falling into the water.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed that police boat searches were launched in areas around Chelsea Bridge and the river at low tide on Saturday morning.

Ezzedi, 35, was last seen just before 11.30pm on January 31, four hours after her mother was attacked by alkali in Clapham.

The Metropolitan Police said after examining CCTV and bus footage from the area, the main hypothesis was that he went into the water, as cameras did not show him leaving.

Mr. A has not been found, but detectives say his death is the “most likely outcome”. He was seen walking up and down the bridge, which was his last known sighting, after which he leaned over the railing.

Friends of a woman who was seriously injured after being doused with a corrosive substance in south London have described her as a “devoted and loving mother”.

Last Wednesday, the 31-year-old woman was suspected of pouring strong alkali on her, causing her to lose vision in her right eye and remains under sedation in hospital. There is.

Because she was still too unwell to speak to police and her injuries were so severe, the incident is being treated as attempted murder.

Close friends of the victim, who have started a fundraising campaign for his family, said in a statement to the PA news agency: “Our friend is first and foremost a devoted and loving mother.

“Her children are her life. She is generous to a fault and a wonderful cook and host. All she wanted was a safe home for herself and her beautiful, kind girls. ”

The Metropolitan Police says it may not be possible to find Abdul Ezzedi even if a search is launched in the Thames.

Ezzedi, 35, was last seen on Chelsea Bridge just before 11.30pm on January 31, but the Metropolitan Police said after examining CCTV and bus footage from the area, he was The main theory is that he entered the building, since no cameras caught him leaving. water.

Speaking at a briefing at Scotland Yard, Commander John Savell said:

“If he goes into the water, it’s very likely that he won’t be seen for up to a month, and we can’t rule out the possibility that he won’t actually surface.”

7:25 p.m. – The attack occurred on Lesser Avenue.

7:33pm – Ezedi boards the train at Clapham South Tube station.

8.42pm – He is seen on CCTV leaving Tesco at 21 Caledonian Road.

9pm – Ezedi enters King’s Cross Tube station and takes the southbound Victoria Line Tube.

9:33pm – He is seen leaving Tower Hill tube station.

10:04pm – He walks past the Unilever building and heads towards Victoria Embankment.

10:33pm – Ezzedi is seen walking south on Westminster Bridge.

10:42pm – Ezzedi was seen walking west on South Thames Lane towards Lambeth Bridge.

10:55pm – Approaching Vauxhall Bridge along the Albert Embankment.

11.03pm – He crosses Vauxhall Bridge Road onto Grosvenor Road.

11.25pm ​​- He crosses Chelsea Bridge and enters Battersea Park.

11:27pm – He heads back north across Chelsea Bridge. This is his last sighting.

The Metropolitan Police said Clapham Alkali attack suspect Abdul Ezzedi was seen “leaning against the railing” of Chelsea Bridge before CCTV surveillance stopped.

Speaking at a press conference at Scotland Yard, Detective Superintendent Rick Swart said: “We tracked Ezzedi’s movements as he walked more than four miles from the Tower Hill area, where he got off the tube, to his location on Chelsea Bridge.

“He has walked with a purpose, but essentially he has walked along the Thames.

“When he arrived at the Chelsea Bridge area, his behavior seemed to noticeably change as he went up and down the bridge. He stopped at the halfway point of the bridge, or halfway up the bridge.

“He was then seen pacing back and forth at the base of the bridge and appeared to lean against the railing before losing his vision.”

Mr Swart added that this was consistent with “he going into the water”.

The Metropolitan Police said the victim of the Clapham Alkali attack was “too unwell to speak to police”.

Speaking at a press conference at Scotland Yard, Commander John Savell said: “Our thoughts are obviously still with the victim, who is still unwell and unable to speak to police.”

A fundraising campaign was launched on GoFundMe to support the family earlier this week and has so far raised thousands of pounds.

Friends of the woman describe her as a “devoted and loving mother.” The group said the victim was a “wonderful cook and host” and praised her neighbor as an “angel” who helped her after the attack.

The Metropolitan Police has announced that a search will be carried out across the Thames for Clapham Alkali attack suspect Abdul Ezzedi.

Speaking at a briefing at Scotland Yard, Commander John Savell said: “Our marine support unit will be conducting a search of the River Thames.

“But as you can imagine, the currents in the Thames are very fast at this time of year. , it indicates that it may take some time for the person to surface.

“And sadly, they may never actually be found.”

He added that police were in contact with members of Mr Ezzedi’s family to “break the news”.

Commander Savel added: “Obviously, it’s going to be shocking news for them and they are understandably very concerned about what Ezzedi allegedly did and what happened to him.” You can feel it,” he added.

Abdul Ezzedi was convicted of sex crimes in 2018.

He escaped prison after pleading guilty to charges of sexual assault and exposure, but was instead placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years and given a suspended sentence at Newcastle Crown Court on 9 January 2009. He was sentenced to 200 hours of unpaid work. That year.

Ezzedi was charged with grabbing a woman’s buttocks without her consent in 2017 and having sex with her in the same year, according to a court document detailing the charges released to the PA news agency on Tuesday. There is.

Detective Superintendent Rick Swart said Clapham chemical attack suspect Abdul Ezedi’s actions on the bridge led him to believe he may have gone into the water.

He was seen climbing up and down the bridge and then leaning over the railing.

The camera then lost sight of the suspect.

“We followed Exedy’s movements from the Tower Hill area, where he got off the subway, and walked four miles to his Chelsea Bridge location,” Swart said.

“He’s walking with a purpose, but he’s essentially walking with the flow of the Thames, and once he gets to the Chelsea Bridge area, there’s a clear change in his behavior as he goes up and down the bridge. It looks like it is.”

“He stops halfway across the bridge and is seen pacing back and forth to the side of the bridge, leaning against the railing before losing his vision.”