Clapham attack suspect arranged to meet victim, police believe
The individual suspected in the Clapham alkali attack is believed by the police to have been in a relationship with the injured woman. The breakdown of this relationship is thought to have been his motive.
Abdul Shokoor Ezedi, 35, is suspected of arranging a meeting with the woman, who remains sedated in hospital.
In the latest update, the police have stated that he is wanted for attempted murder. Ezedi was last seen on 31 January, following the attack on the mother and her two daughters in south London. The Metropolitan Police are urging Ezedi to surrender himself.
They have stated that there is a strong indication that Ezedi had been in a relationship with the woman that had subsequently broken down.
Ezedi arranged to meet the woman before assaulting her with a corrosive substance, according to police. Commander Jon Savell stated during a press briefing that they cannot provide details about the duration or the circumstances of the relationship’s breakdown.
The 31-year-old woman remains sedated in the hospital, and there is a possibility that she may lose sight in her right eye due to the attack.
Her daughters have been discharged and are recuperating from their injuries. The Metropolitan Police released Ezedi’s last known location hours after the attack.
CCTV footage shows him crossing Vauxhall Bridge onto Vauxhall Bridge Road at 23:00 GMT on Wednesday.
Police have noted that Ezedi’s injuries seem severe and could even be fatal if left untreated. They do not believe he has sought medical treatment at a hospital. There are several theories regarding where the suspect might have fled.
Commander Jon Savell mentioned that he could have traveled north, east, south, west, or even abroad.
He also suggested the possibility that Ezedi might have entered the River Thames, although there have been no reports of anyone entering the river, and no bodies matching his description have been found.
Police believe Ezedi, who is from the Newcastle area but believed to have traveled to the UK on a lorry from Afghanistan in 2016, is not the father of the children injured in the attack, aged eight and three, and was in the capital visiting their mother.
A £20,000 reward for information leading to his capture has been offered by the Met Police.
A 22-year-old man was arrested in London on Monday on suspicion of assisting an offender. He has since been bailed.
At the police briefing, Darius Nasimi, of the charity Afghanistan and Central Asian Association, said his organization was working closely with the police to make sure the Afghan community is reached as widely as possible.
“Violence against women and girls cannot be tolerated,” he said, before issuing a plea for anyone harboring Ezedi or helping him to avoid capture to come forward.
Mr Nasimi stressed the attack is “not a reflection of the people of Afghanistan who are in the UK”.
Ezedi was convicted of a sexual offense in 2018 after pleading guilty to one charge of sexual assault and one of exposure.
He was given a suspended sentence at Newcastle Crown Court and put on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.
Ezedi was later granted asylum after two failed attempts. He was allowed to stay in the country after a priest confirmed he had converted to Christianity.
The Archbishop of Canterbury said it had been “disappointing to see the mischaracterization of the role of churches and faith groups in the asylum system”.
“It is the job of the government to protect our borders and of the courts to judge asylum cases,” Justin Welby said in a statement on Wednesday evening.
“The Church is called to love mercy and do justice. I encourage everyone to avoid irresponsible and inaccurate comments.”
