Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Clapham chemical attack suspect Abdul Ezedi’s cause of death revealed

Ezedi’s body was recovered from the River Thames on Monday

Josh Payne
Saturday 24 February 2024 09:04 GMT
Police ‘strongly believe’ they have recovered body of alkali attack suspect

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Alkali attack suspect Abdul Ezedi drowned, police have confirmed.

Ezedi’s body was recovered from the River Thames on Monday and has now been formally identified following a post-mortem examination, the Metropolitan Police said.

His former girlfriend, a mother-of-two who was doused with a corrosive chemical in a harrowing attack on her and her children, aged eight and three, in Clapham last month, is now in a stable condition and no longer sedated, the force added.

On Friday, Commander Jon Savell said: “As the public would expect, our enquiries continue into this atrocious attack.

“We have still not been able to speak to her but hope to as soon as she is well enough.”

Ezedi is a convicted sex offender granted asylum in the UK on his third attempt after converting to Christianity
Ezedi is a convicted sex offender granted asylum in the UK on his third attempt after converting to Christianity (Metropolitan Police)

The Met said a file will now be passed to the coroner and Ezedi’s family have been informed.

Police believe Ezedi, from the Newcastle area, threw a burning chemical over the woman, some of which also injured one of the children, and slammed the three-year-old’s head on the ground in the attack on January 31.

He then fled the scene and initially used his bank card to travel on the Tube before walking a route that broadly hugged the banks of the River Thames in the following hours.

During a massive manhunt, investigators had to piece together CCTV footage to establish that he had jumped in the Thames.

At around 4pm on Monday the crew of a passing boat reported they had seen a body in the water near Tower Bridge at Tower Pier.

The body was recovered by the Metropolitan Police’s Marine Policing Unit, with support from London Fire Brigade, and has been viewed by detectives working on the investigation.

The post-mortem examination was carried out at Poplar Mortuary on Wednesday and his body was formally identified on Thursday, the Met said.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in