Clapham attack: Police launch search for suspect Abdul Ezedi near Chelsea Bridge

The seek for Abdul Ezedi within the River Thames started this morning after police revealed yesterday that they imagine he could have fallen into the water and died.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed that police boat searches had commenced at low tide on Saturday morning close to Chelsea Bridge and the encompassing space of the river.

Ezedi, 35, was final seen on Chelsea Bridge simply earlier than 11:30pm on 31 January – 4 hours after a mom was attacked by a robust alkali in Clapham.

The Metropolitan Police say that after learning CCTV and bus footage of the world, no cameras captured him leaving, so their foremost speculation is that he went into the water.

Whereas no physique has been discovered, detectives say his demise is the “most possible final result”. He was seen pacing up and down the bridge – the final recognized sighting of him – earlier than leaning over the railings.

7.25pm – The assault takes place in Lessar Avenue.

7.33pm – Ezedi boards a practice at Clapham South Tube station.

8.42pm – He’s seen on CCTV leaving Tesco at 21 Caledonian Highway.

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

9.33pm – He’s seen leaving Tower Hill Underground Station.

10.04pm – He passes the Unilever constructing and heads in the direction of Victoria Embankment.

10.33pm – Ezedi is seen strolling south on Westminster bridge.

10.42pm – Ezedi was seen strolling west on south Thames Path in the direction of Lambeth Bridge.

10.55pm – He travels alongside the Albert Embankment approaching Vauxhall Bridge.

11.03pm – He crosses Vauxhall Bridge Highway, into Grosvenor Highway.

11.25pm – He crosses over Chelsea Bridge and enters Battersea Park.

11.27pm – He crosses again over Chelsea Bridge in the direction of the north aspect. That is the final recorded sighting of him.

The Metropolitan Police stated Clapham alkali assault suspect Abdul Ezedi was seen to “lean over the railings” of Chelsea Bridge earlier than CCTV sightings of him ceased.

In a briefing at Scotland Yard, Detective Superintendent Rick Sewart stated: “We’ve tracked Ezedi’s actions from the Tower Hill space the place he alighted the underground and he’s walked over 4 miles to the placement of Chelsea Bridge.

“He’s walked with goal, however has basically hugged the Thames River line.

“When he has acquired to the world of Chelsea Bridge, his behaviour visibly seems to vary in a lot as he walked up and down the bridge – he pauses within the midpoint of the bridge, midway down the bridge.

“Then he walked to and from the aspect of the bridge and will be seen to form of lean over the railings earlier than there’s a lack of sight.”

Mr Sewart added that this was in line with “him going into the water”.

The Metropolitan Police stated the sufferer of the Clapham alkali assault is “very poorly and unable to talk to police”.

In a briefing at Scotland Yard, Commander Jon Savell stated: “Our ideas clearly nonetheless stay with our sufferer who nonetheless could be very poorly and unable to talk to police.”

Earlier this week, a fundraiser launched on GoFundMe to help the household has to date raised hundreds of kilos.

Buddies of the lady have described her as “a faithful and loving mom”. The group stated the sufferer was “an exquisite cook dinner and host” and praised her neighbours for being “angels” by serving to within the aftermath of the assault.

The Metropolitan Police stated searches of the River Thames might be carried out for Clapham alkali assault suspect Abdul Ezedi.

In a briefing at Scotland Yard, Commander Jon Savell stated: “Our marine help unit might be finishing up some searches of the Thames.

“However as you possibly can think about, presently of 12 months the Thames could be very quick flowing. And our experience, and the consultants from the oceanography departments which are supporting us, would point out that it could be a while if somebody has gone within the water presently of 12 months for an individual to floor.

“And sadly, they might by no means really be discovered.”

He added that police had been involved with a member of Ezedi’s household to “break that information”.

Commander Savell added: “Clearly, that might be surprising information for them and they’ll I think about be naturally very anxious about what Ezedi is alleged to have completed and what could have occurred to him.”

Abdul Ezedi was convicted of a sexual offence in 2018.

He averted jail after pleading responsible to expenses of sexual assault and publicity, as an alternative being positioned on the intercourse offender register for 10 years and ordered to hold out 200 hours of unpaid work when he was handed a suspended sentence at Newcastle Crown Court docket on January 9 of that 12 months.

Ezedi was accused of grabbing the underside of a girl with out her consent in 2017, in addition to committing a intercourse act that very same 12 months, in response to paperwork detailing the indictment which had been disclosed by the courtroom to the PA information company on Tuesday.

Detective superintendent Rick Sewart stated Clapham chemical assault suspect Abdul Ezedi’s behaviour on the bridge has led them to imagine he could have entered the water.

He was seen pacing up and down the bridge earlier than leaning over the railings.

Afterwards, cameras overpassed the suspect.

“We’ve tracked Exedi’s actions from the Tower Hill space the place he alighted the underground and he’s walked 4 miles to the placement of Chelsea Bridge,” stated Mr Sewart.

“He’s walked with goal however he’s basically hugged the Thames river line and when he has acquired to the world of Chelsea Bridge, his behaviour visibly seems to vary in a lot as he walks up and down the bridge.

“He pauses midway down the bridge and he walks to and from the aspect of the bridge and will be seen leaning over the railings earlier than there’s a lack of sight.”