Body found in Thames after hunt for Clapham chemical attacker Abdul Ezedi

A body believed to be that of Clapham alkali attacker Abdul Ezedi has been found nearly four weeks since the ‘brutal’ attack.

The remains were recovered from the River Thames at around 4pm Monday after being spotted by the crew of a passing boat in the water at Tower Pier EC3.

Ezedi, 35, is accused of throwing a strong alkali on his former partner and injuring her three and eight-year-old daughters along Lessar Avenue on January 31.

After allegedly chucking the substance at 7.25pm, he attempted to drive away from the scene only to crash into a stationary vehicle.

During his time on the run that saw him bounce across London, he boarded a Tube train at Clapham South Underground station and by 8pm he was at King’s Cross Tube station in north London.

CCTV captured him at 9.33pm in Tower Hill Underground station in east London, and later near Southwark Bridge at 9.50pm.

Detectives believe Ezedi went into the River Thames at Chelsea about four hours after the attack.

The Metropolitan Police said officers ‘painstakingly’ examined surveillance footage to map Ezedi’s movements until he ‘disappeared from view’ after leaning on the Chelsea Bright railings.

Specialist marine officers carried out low-tide searches around the Chelsea Bridge area over the weekend of February 10-11 – two bodies were found, but neither was linked to Ezedi.

Commander Jon Savell said today: ‘Based on the distinctive clothing he was wearing at the time of the attack and property found on his body, we strongly believe we have recovered the body of Ezedi.’

‘We have been in contact with his family to pass on the news.

‘As you may expect after a considerable period of time in the strong current of the Thames, formal identification is not possible visually, nor from fingerprints. We will work with the coroner on other ways to complete formal identification, such as DNA testing and dental records.

‘That may take some time.’

Hundreds of officers have been combing the capital for Ezedi, with a £20,000 reward up for anyone with information leading to the attacker’s arrest.

Police officials had described Ezedi, from the Newcastle area, as ‘dangerous’.

There have been no further arrests.

A GoFundMe set up for the victims which has raised nearly £45,000 says a ‘generous, sweet, loving mother and her two small daughters’ were attacked.

‘This attack has changed the lives of this wonderful little family forever,’ the fundraiser says.

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