Police name Clapham suspect in chemical attack as Abdul Ezedi | London

Detectives have named the man suspected of attacking the woman and her children with an alkaline corrosive substance as Abdullah Ezedi, who they described as “dangerous” and with “significant injuries” to the right side of his face.

Emergency services were called to Lessor Avenue in Clapham at around 7.25pm. The injured were taken to the hospital along with bystanders and police officers who were injured while trying to render aid.

Scotland Yard launched a manhunt, appealing for witnesses to come forward, but asking anyone who sees Ezedi not to approach him.

The Metropolitan Police has put other forces on alert in case the 35-year-old suspect tries to flee London, with Superintendent Gabriel Cameron saying he was last seen in the Caledonian Road area of ​​north London and is believed to have been traveling from the north-east of England , to launch an attack.

A 31-year-old woman, believed to be known to Ezedi, and her three-year-old daughter suffered life-changing injuries, although Cameron said they and a second eight-year-old daughter were in a stable condition in hospital on Thursday afternoon.

They were the victims, Cameron said, of a “horrific crime” against a “vulnerable woman” and her family by a “dangerous man”. He added: “We take violence against women and girls very seriously. And it was the one who [was in] vulnerable position … and it would be terrible and scary. Therefore, we will do everything possible and, I am quite sure, we will capture him.”

Ezedi is believed to have attempted to flee the scene in a car, but crashed into a parked vehicle and fled on foot. Cameron said Scotland Yard was working with Northumbria and British Transport Police because Ezedi “could return” to Newcastle. He told reporters: “We will catch him, I am absolutely sure of that.”

Cameron added: “At this stage I believe he was known to the police, but to my knowledge he is not a local Londoner.”

Later on Thursday, officers released a CCTV image of the last known sighting of Ezedi in north London – shortly before 9pm on Wednesday.

“The image is taken from the Tesco store where Ezedi is believed to have purchased a bottle of water. He left the store and turned right. The image shows Ezedi with what appears to be significant injuries to the right side of his face. That's what makes it stand out,” Cameron said.

He could not confirm what substance was used, saying many harsh alkaline products were available in high street shops.

There was a sense of shock in Clapham on Thursday morning. A witness said he heard screams from outside and saw a child banging on a car window before seeing a man throw a substance at the woman.

“Then he ran away, because they started chasing him. After that I heard a woman cry out, “My eyes, my eyes, where are my children?” She was running up and down with her eyes closed. Neighbors came out and started splashing her eyes with water. The little child kept shouting, “Where's my mom?”

Other witnesses described the “terrible” scene.

The Clapham South Belvedere Hotel, which is a few meters from the scene, confirmed that its guests were victims of the attack. Since the pandemic, the hotel has been used by local authorities as temporary accommodation.

It is not yet known whether the victims were staying at the hotel as temporary guests.

In an interview with the BBC on Thursday, Met Police Commissioner Mark Rowley paid tribute to the bravery of members of the public and police who intervened. He said three citizens went to the hospital after coming into contact with the substance, as well as five police officers. According to him, only the woman and her two young daughters remained in the hospital until lunch on Thursday.