Body found in River Thames in manhunt for Clapham chemical attack suspect Abdul Ezedi

A body has been found in the River Thames by police searching for the Clapham chemical attack suspect Abdul Ezedi, almost three weeks after a major manhunt was launched.

The Metropolitan Police said it “strongly believes” the body pulled from the water in central London on Monday is Ezedi’s based on his distinctive clothing, although formal visual identification is impossible after a period of time being dragged by the strong current.

Following hundreds of tips from the public, the body was recovered more than four miles away from the last sighting of the wanted man after the crew of a passing boat reported they had seen a body in the water at Tower Pier in Tower Hill at around 4pm.

Abdul Ezedi captured on CCTV with a facial injury suffered in the incident (PA Wire)

It comes after a major manhunt was launched when the 35-year-old, from the Newcastle area, went on the run, after allegedly pouring a strong, corrosive, alkaline substance on a mother and her two young daughters in Clapham, south London on 31 January.

The force said in its update on Tuesday that the condition of the 31-year-old woman, who is Ezedi’s ex-partner, has improved after she endured significant facial injuries. She remains in hospital in a stable condition, while the children, aged eight and three, who are not Ezedi’s, were previously discharged.

A possible motive for the attack considered by police was the breakdown of her relationship with Ezedi, who is a convicted sex offender, having been granted asylum in the UK on his third attempt after converting to Christianity.

As passersby tried to intervene, a total of 12 people were injured in the attack on Lessar Avenue at around 7.25pm, during which Ezedi was alleged to have thrown one of the children to the ground and suffered significant facial injuries himself. He crashed into a stationary vehicle while attempting to drive away from the scene, before fleeing on foot.

Tower Pier on the River Thames, London, where a body believed to be that of Clapham alkali attack suspect Abdul Ezedi was found in the water on Monday (James Manning/PA Wire)

Following days of searching, the Metropolitan Police announced on 9 February it believed Ezedi went into the River Thames in west London around four hours after the alkaline attack. He was spotted on CCTV leaning over the railings of Chelsea Bridge before disappearing from view in what was the last confirmed sighting of the suspect.

The manhunt subsequently focused on an area of the Thames between Vauxhall and Chelsea bridges over the following couple of days, with crowds seen watching a circling police boat flashing lights and pausing beside a small ship before moving off again.

Members of the Metropolitan Police Marine Policing Unit searching for Clapham chemical attack suspect Abdul Ezedi near Chelsea Bridge (PA)

After 20 days of hunting, a body was recovered by the Met’s Marine Policing Unit at the Tower Millennium Pier in one of the routine searches that had continued. It has subsequently been viewed by detectives working on the investigation.

Commander Jon Savell said: “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.

CCTV footage of Abdul Ezedi (left wearing a black jacket), the suspect in the Clapham alkaline substance attack, near Chelsea Bridge (PA)

“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.”

Abdul Ezedi is a convicted sex offender who was granted asylum in the UK on his third attempt after converting to Christianity (PA)

The Met’s investigation into the attack continues and detectives have been carrying out a range of further enquiries. Hundreds of members of the public called the force with information during the hunt for Ezedi, in what police described as an “overwhelming” show of support.

A 22-year-old man who was previously arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender remains on bail. There have been no more arrests.

The area near Tower Pier on the River Thames, London , where a body believed to be that of Clapham alkali attack suspect Abdul Ezedi was found in the water on Monday (James Manning/PA Wire)

In their search for Ezedi, officers raided two addresses linked to him in Newcastle and also offered a £20,000 reward for anyone with information about his whereabouts.

The 31-year-old victim is no longer sedated and police said they hope to soon be able to speak with her.