February 10, 2024, 23:18
A vicar has revealed he baptized up to 500 asylum seekers in south Wales, as religious asylums come under increased scrutiny during the search for Clapham chemical attack suspect Abdul Ezzedi. Among them, more than half disappeared after converting.
Photo: Bethal Baptist Church/Getty
A vicar has revealed he baptized up to 500 asylum seekers in south Wales, as religious asylums come under increased scrutiny during the search for Clapham chemical attack suspect Abdul Ezzedi. Among them, more than half disappeared after converting.
The Reverend Phillip Rees of Bethal Baptist Church said he organized mass baptisms of migrants on the frozen coast of south Wales as a “litmus test” to test the legitimacy of their Christianity.
But the beleaguered pastor said up to 60 per cent of those baptized thought they would never see them again.
The 74-year-old pastor speculated that the men had disappeared to go to London to look for work.
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Pastor Rees told the Mail on Sunday that he wanted to help migrants in need. “We prayed that God would send us asylum seekers, and lo and behold, the Home Office opened an office right next to the church.”
The Reverend Phillip Rees of Bethal Baptist Church said he organized mass baptisms of migrants on the frozen coast of south Wales as a “litmus test” to test the legitimacy of their Christianity.
Photo: Bethal Baptist Church
The revelations come amid intense scrutiny over whether Clapham chemical attacker Abdul Ezzedi may have pretended to convert to Christianity to get his asylum claim approved on his third attempt. It was held in
After his conversion, Ezzedi is suspected of throwing alkaline substances at several people, including a woman with whom he was romantically involved.
Police searching for the suspect said they believed Ezzedi threw himself off Chelsea Bridge shortly after the attack and may have drowned in the Thames.
Marine Police units are currently searching the area and the boat was seen circling between Vauxhall and Chelsea Bridges on Saturday morning.
Police officers have been tracking a 35-year-old Afghan asylum seeker since Wednesday, January 31, after he doused a mother and her two daughters with chemicals.
Metropolitan Police said it is now believed Mr Ezzedi had “entered the water” and was last seen on Chelsea Bridge at 11.27pm on the night of the attack last week and was likely dead.
Members of the Metropolitan Police Marine Police Unit near Chelsea Bridge.
Photo: Alamy
Police believe Clapham chemicals suspect Abdul Ezedi threw himself into the Thames
Speaking at a Scotland Yard briefing, Commander John Savell said: “We have been closely monitoring CCTV over the past 24 hours and our main working hypothesis is that he has now entered the water.” Ta.
“We looked at all available cameras and angles, with the help of Transport for London and surveillance cameras from buses that were traveling on the bridge at the relevant time, and we were able to confirm that he was coming off the bridge. However, it has not been seen.”
There is no other surveillance footage of the suspect since he was last seen on the bridge, and officers do not believe he had contact with anyone else, the force confirmed.
A behavioral psychologist commissioned by police assessed the footage and said he believed Ezzedi may have committed suicide.
The force said if Mr Ezzedi went into the river, he may “never” surface.
Captain John Savell said: “At this time of year the Thames is very fast flowing, wide and full of obstacles.
“If he goes into the water, it’s very likely that he won’t emerge for probably up to a month, and we can’t rule out the possibility that he won’t actually surface.”
The force added that Ezzedi “walked purposefully” before crossing the bridge, but that his “behavior changed visibly” afterward.
A Met spokeswoman said: “He can be seen climbing up and down and leaning against the railing.”
Commander John Sabel said officers would have been confident they would have found the suspect if he had not gone into the water.
This was announced by police on Thursday after officers from the Metropolitan Police and Northumbria Police executed warrants at addresses in the North Tyneside area, including the suspect’s place of work.
Ezzedi was last seen at Chelsea Bridge on the night of the attack.
Photo: PA
Ezzedi, from the Newcastle area, is accused of dousing his ex-partner and her two young children, aged three and eight, in Clapham, south London, on Wednesday, January 31.
The woman, who may be left blind in her right eye after being exposed to the corrosive liquid, was in a relationship with Ezzedi.
She was sedated in hospital but remained too unwell to speak to police, the force previously confirmed.
Ezedi suffered serious facial injuries in the incident, which police previously said could be fatal if not treated.