REWARD OFFERED
Clapham chemical attack: New CCTV shows Abdul Ezedi strolling through Tesco with bottled water as cops offer £20K reward
Agents from 'Britain's FBI' have been drafted into the manhunt
NEW CCTV today showed Clapham chemical attack suspect Abdul Ezedi strolling through Tesco with bottled water - as cops hunting him offer a £20,000 reward.
Scotland Yard revealed the substance with which Ezedi allegedly doused a mum and her young kids on Wednesday.
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Ezedi, 35, from Newcastle, is still at large after he threw the chemical at the family on a residential street in Clapham, south London.
He also allegedly tried to run the mum over before twice slamming her three-year-old daughter on the ground "like a rag doll".
Cops have this lunchtime released CCTV footage of Ezedi calmly walking through a Tesco branch in Caledonian Road near King's Cross station.
Shoppers do not seem to notice Ezedi's half-molten face after the "very strong corrosive substance" reportedly splashed back on him.
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The Met Police said lab tests have identified the liquid as either caustic soda (sodium hydroxide) or washing soda (sodium carbonate).
Both caustic soda - also known as lye - and washing soda are typically used to clear blocked drains.
Manhunt cops have also released new details about Ezedi's movements in a statement this lunchtime.
The last confirmed sighting of Ezedi was when he left Tower Hill Underground station at 9.33pm on Wednesday.
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Ezedi had changed trains at Victoria, where he arrived on the Victoria Line at 9.10pm.
He got on the eastbound District Line at 9.16pm before getting off at Tower Hill.
Manhunt cops believe that people who know where Ezedi is have not come forward - warning that anyone helping him faces arrest.
It comes as...
- Cops raid a home in the search for fugitive Abdul Ezedi
- A woman was left with "burns to both eyeballs" after tackling the fugitive
- The suspect's relative says Ezedi was in a relationship with his victim
- A hero mum ignored her own injuries to save her daughters
- Officers in hazmat suits smash down doors in the hunt for Ezedi
- 'Dangerous' Ezedi is revealed as a convicted sex offender
Commander Jon Savell said: "A reward of up to £20,000 is now available for information leading to his arrest.
"I must warn anyone who is helping Ezedi to evade capture - if you are harbouring or assisting him then you will be arrested."
Savell added: "I can also provide an update today on laboratory analysis of the substance from the attack site.
"The liquid used in the attack was a very strong concentrated corrosive substance, either liquid sodium hydroxide or liquid sodium carbonate.
"Further enquiries are ongoing including comparison with the containers seized from Ezedi’s address in Newcastle."
The Met has shared the fugitive's details with all UK police forces and ports.
'GANG LINKS'
Cops from the National Crime Agency, nicknamed "Britain's FBI", were drafted into the manhunt last night.
NCA agents are probing whether organised crime groups might be helping Ezedi evade capture, the reports.
Searches have taken place at two homes in east London and three in Newcastle.
Cops yesterday released footage of officers entering one home in Newcastle where empty containers with corrosive warnings on the labels were found.
Police say forensic tests are "currently ongoing" to see if the containers held the substance used in the attack.
One of Ezedi's relatives has now told that the suspect was in a relationship with the mum.
The relative said they would hand Ezedi into cops themselves if they had to.
It comes after Ezedi's distraught brother Hassan urged the chemical attack suspect to give himself up.
Ezedi is believed to have tracked his victim down to the two-star Clapham South Belvedere Hotel, where the council had put her up with her daughters, aged three and eight.
Members of the public and cops were also burned as they rushed to the family’s aid.
A 22-year-old man who has stayed in the Belvedere Hotel for three months said he saw the woman flee into the reception and scream for help after the chilling attack.
Manhunt cops are urging people not to approach "dangerous" fugitive Ezedi.
'DANGEROUS' FUGITIVE
Now it has been revealed that Ezedi arrived in the UK in a lorry and failed to claim asylum.
However, he then converted to Christianity and was accepted on his third attempt with a priest as a character witness.
Ezedi pleaded guilty to one charge of sexual assault and one of exposure before he was granted asylum, the Crown Prosecution Service has confirmed.
He was sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court on January 9, 2018, to a nine-week jail term suspended for two years for the sexual assault.
For the exposure he was given 36 weeks' imprisonment to be served consecutively, which was also suspended for two years.
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Anyone with information about Abdul Ezedi is asked to call 020 7175 2784 or for an immediate sighting dial 999.
To remain anonymous, please contact the independent charity Crimestoppers.
Everything we know about Ezedi
What were Ezedi's last known movements?
Manhunt cops say Ezedi's car was seen in Newcastle at quarter past midnight on Wednesday.
By 6.30am the car was seen travelling into Tooting, south west London.
A further sighting of his car was confirmed in Croydon at 4.30pm and Ezedi was seen driving in Streatham at 7pm.
The attack on a 31-year-old woman, and her daughters, aged three and eight, took place in Lessar Avenue in Clapham at 7.25pm that night.
The mum is believed to be known to Ezedi, cops said.
Ezedi made off in his car but it crashed nearby. He then left the vehicle and ran off.
At 7.33pm Ezedi boarded a Northern line train at Clapham South Tube station.
Ezedi got off at King's Cross just before 8pm.
He was seen on CCTV leaving a Tesco Express at 21 Caledonian Road, near King's Cross, and turning right.
The suspect had significant facial injuries and is believed to have bought a bottle of water.
Ezedi re-entered King's Cross Tube station at 9pm and boarded a southbound Victoria line train.
The suspect has not been seen since.
Does Ezedi have a criminal record?
Ezedi was convicted of a sexual offence in 2018 and given a suspended sentence at Newcastle Crown Court.
The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed he was sentenced on January 9 of that year after pleading guilty to one charge of sexual assault and one of exposure.
He was put on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.
Why was Ezedi given asylum in the UK?
Ezedi was granted asylum in 2020 on his third attempt - after he was convicted of the sex offence.
He reportedly arrived in the UK on the back of a lorry in 2016 and claimed to have converted to Christianity to back up his asylum bid.
A priest told the Telegraph that Ezedi had converted to Christianity and was "wholly committed" to his new religion.
What happened to Ezedi's face?
CCTV from Wednesday night shows Ezedi with what police have described as very "significant injuries to the right side of his face".
Met Police Commander Jon Savell addressed him directly, saying: "Abdul, you clearly have got some very significant injuries.
"We've seen the images. You need some medical help, so do the right thing and hand yourself in."
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