Clapham chemical attack: Everything we know so far
A man accused of a chemical attack on a mother and two children in Clapham, south London, is on the run and being hunted by three police forces.
Police have warned the public that the suspect, Abdul Shokoor Ezedi, is “dangerous” and should not be approached. Anyone who spots him should call 999 immediately.
Follow latest: Chemical attack suspect still on the loose
This is what we know so far about the events before, during and after the attack.
The day of the attack
Ezedi’s vehicle was seen in Newcastle-upon-Tyne at 00.15am on the morning of Wednesday 31 January.
Just over six hours later, at 6.15am, his car was spotted driving in Tooting, south London.
The next confirmed sighting of his car was in Croydon, south London, at 4.30pm.
Two-and-a-half hours later, at 7pm he was then seen driving through Streatham, south London.
The chemical attack
At 7.25pm a 31-year-old mother and her two young girls, aged three and eight, were targeted with an alkaline substance on Lessar Avenue in Clapham, south London.
It was captured on CCTV, with the footage showing a man, believed to be Ezedi, running around a car before getting into the driver’s seat – while a woman and child in front of the vehicle holding their hands to their faces.
The man was then seen driving the car at the woman and hitting her, before stopping the vehicle and getting out.
He opened the back door and appeared to remove a child, before violently throwing them to the ground.
The footage also shows people from neighbouring properties emerging from their homes.
A witness, who asked not to be named, said the mother screamed “My eyes, my eyes” after the corrosive substance was thrown.
He chased the man down the street but the suspect managed to escape.
The manhunt
At 7.33pm Ezedi was seen boarding a train at Clapham South Tube station. Then, at 7.59pm, he got off the train at King’s Cross Tube station.
He was then spotted on CCTV at 8.42pm leaving a branch of Tesco on Caledonian Road, close to King’s Cross Station, after buying a bottle of water. After exiting the shop he turned right.
The last confirmed sighting of Ezedi was at 9pm, when he was again seen in King’s Cross Tube station, boarding a southbound Victoria Line train.
In the CCTV images released by police, he is wearing a blue and white top with a black hoodie and has what detectives described as “significant injuries” to the right side of his face.
Three of the UK’s biggest forces – the Metropolitan Police, Northumbria Police and British Transport Police – are looking for him.
Sky News obtained footage of police raiding a flat in east London at around 2am on 2 February, where it is believed the suspect’s brother lives.
Police asked residents in the flats: “Have you seen a man with an injured eye?”
Residents were questioned in police cars parked nearby and were later let back into their flats. It is thought the suspect’s brother was among them, but he claimed to have had no recent contact with his sibling.
In an update on the manhunt later on 2 February, Metropolitan Police Commander Jon Savell said: “A total of five search warrants were carried out overnight, including at two addresses in east London and three in Newcastle.
“Two empty containers with corrosive warnings on the label were found at an address in Newcastle. Forensic tests are currently ongoing to see if the containers held the substance used in the attack in Clapham.”
He went on to appeal to Ezedi to hand himself in.
The victims
Police said the 31-year-old mother injured in the attack is still in hospital and under sedation. They expect her injuries will be life-changing.
However, the injuries of the two children are not as serious as first feared.
The four bystanders who rushed to their aid have all been released from hospital with minor burns and five police officers who were also injured are back on duty.
Officers have said the suspect was known to the woman and have described the attack as “targeted”.
The suspect
Police have named him as 35-year-old Abdul Shokoor Ezedi.
It is understood he was granted asylum following two failed attempts after a priest vouched for his conversion to Christianity, saying he was “wholly committed” to his new religion.
He arrived in the UK via a lorry in 2016 and claimed his life would be in danger if he returned to his native Afghanistan.
Six years ago, he was handed a suspended sentence for a sexual offence in Newcastle.
He had pleaded guilty to one charge of sexual assault and one of indecent exposure, the Crown Prosecution Service confirmed.
His sentencing took place at Newcastle Crown Court on 9 January 2018, when he was given a nine-week jail term, suspended for two years, for the sexual assault.
For the indecent exposure, he was given 36 weeks’ imprisonment to be served consecutively, which was also suspended for two years.
He was discharged from probation supervision in 2020.
Ezedi was also added to the sex offenders register for 10 years.