Police reveal footage of raid in search for Clapham attacker
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The man suspected of carrying out the Clapham chemical attack is believed to have “gone into” the River Thames, the Metropolitan Police have said.
While no body has been found, the main hypothesis is that Abdul Ezedi went into the water and officers are currently reviewing CCTV and TfL bus footage.
On Thursday, the Met Police released footage of the last known sighting of Ezedi on Chelsea Bridge shortly before 11:30pm on Wednesday January 31.
He can be seen crossing over the bridge and entering Battersea Park before crossing back over Chelsea Bridge towards the north side – roughly four hours after he is suspected of attacking a woman with a strong alkaline on Lessar Avenue.
In a briefing at Scotland Yard, Commander Jon Savell said: “We have spent the last 24 hours meticulously following the CCTV, and it’s our main working hypothesis that he’s now gone into the water.
“We have looked at all of the available cameras and angles, and with the assistance of Transport for London and CCTV from buses that were travelling over the bridge at the relevant time and there is no sighting of him coming off the bridge.”
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Suspect went into river after being spotted leaning over railings: police hypothesis
Detectives are working on the hypothesis that Abdul Ezedi entered the River Thames at Chelsea Bridge after he was seen leaning over railings, they have revealed.
Jane Dalton9 February 2024 16:37
Body might never be found, police warn
Marine search units will search the Thames at low tide over the coming days, but officers warned it may take months for a body to be recovered – or it may never be found.
“If he has gone into the water, he might not come up for months and it is a possibility that he may never actually surface,” said Det Supt Sewart.
Jane Dalton9 February 2024 16:51
Suspect’s death is most probable outcome, say police
Asked whether officers believed he was dead, Det Supt Sewart replied: “We are prepared to say that he’s gone into the water and if he’s gone into the water that is the most probable outcome.”
Jane Dalton9 February 2024 16:48
Ezedi paced up and down bridge before vanishing
Detective superintendent Rick Sewart said Ezedi’s behaviour on the bridge has led them to believe he may have entered the water.
He was seen pacing up and down the bridge before leaning over the railings.
Afterwards, cameras lost sight of the suspect.
“We have tracked Exedi’s movements from the Tower Hill area where he alighted the underground and he’s walked four miles to the location of Chelsea Bridge,” said Mr Sewart.
“He’s walked with purpose but he’s essentially hugged the Thames river line and when he has got to the area of Chelsea Bridge, his behaviour visibly appears to change in so much as he walks up and down the bridge.
“He pauses halfway down the bridge and he walks to and from the side of the bridge and can be seen leaning over the railings before there is a loss of sight.”
Jane Dalton9 February 2024 16:46
Police hunt for body
Police are searching for a body, based on their hypothesis that Abdul Ezedi jumped or fell into the River Thames.
Jane Dalton9 February 2024 16:44
Ezedi’s ‘behaviour changed’
Detectives say the suspect was last photographed just after 11.30pm crossing Chelsea Bridge, but there are also no sightings from witnesses of him leaving it.
There was a change in his behaviour just before he vanished from cameras.
Jane Dalton9 February 2024 16:41
No cameras captured Ezedi leaving bridge, say police
Met Police Commander Jon Savell said: “It’s our main working hypothesis that he has now gone in the water.
“We have looked at all available cameras and angles with the assistance of TfL buses travelling over the bridge at the time.
“There is no sighting of him coming off the bridge.”
Jane Dalton9 February 2024 16:38
The Church of England will “happily engage” with the Government around its work with asylum seekers, a leading official said, as a diocese rejected claims by an ex-vicar about a “conveyor belt of baptisms”.
Abdul Ezedi was turned down twice for asylum before successfully appealing against the Home Office rejection by claiming he had converted to Christianity. The case has led to allegations people are converting to Christianity to help them secure their stay in the UK.
The topic of asylum and the Church will not be formally debated at the upcoming meeting of the General Synod – known as the church’s parliament – later this month, but could be raised by a member for “some discussion”, the Synod’s general secretary, William Nye, said.
He told reporters at a briefing on Friday: “We’re always happy to work with the Government on anything and while, as the Bishop of Chelmsford has said, actual decisions on asylum are for the Home Office or, if contested, then for the relevant courts – nonetheless, if the Home Office wants to work with the Church of England on any matter like this we’ll happily engage with them.”
Athena Stavrou9 February 2024 15:30
Ezedi ‘may have jumped into river’ shortly after last sighting
The man suspected of carrying out a chemical attack in Clapham last week may have jumped off of Chelsea Bridge shortly after the last CCTV sighting of him, The Sun newspaper has reported.
On Thursday, the Met Police released footage of the last known sighting of Abdul Ezedi on Chelsea Bridge shortly before 11:30pm on Wednesday January 31.
He can be seen crossing over the bridge and entering Battersea Park before crossing back over Chelsea Bridge towards the north side – roughly four hours after he is suspected of attacking a woman with a strong alkaline.
Sun Online reported that detectives now believe Ezedi may have fallen into the river soon after this sighting.
A source told the paper: “The investigation team believe Ezedi died soon after the last sighting of him on camera on the north side of the river.”
At a news briefing on Wednesday Commander Jon Savell said: “It is a possibility he has gone into the Thames.
“Sadly, we recover people from the Thames and it takes a while for it to happen.
“It is a very fast-flowing body of water. Nobody has seen anyone going into the Thames and no bodies have been recovered.”
CCTV footage of Abdul Ezedi (bottom right wearing a black jacket) crossing over Chelsea Bridge
(PA)
Athena Stavrou9 February 2024 15:05
‘We must not allow the Clapham attack to colour our view of migrants’ – Letter
“I read your recent editorial regarding events in Clapham with interest and agreement. I admit to being one of those who was concerned when I learned that the perpetrator of this horrendous crime had been granted asylum in this country.
Because, as stated in your piece, I am against the idea that one malefactor should cloud everyone’s rational opinion about the thousands of other desperate men, women and children who come to this country seeking aid.”
Read the full letter written to The Independent below:
Athena Stavrou9 February 2024 14:10