In a dramatic twist to the ongoing nationwide manhunt for Abdul Ezedi, the brother of the fugitive, Hassan Ezedi, 21, has made a heartfelt plea urging his sibling to turn himself in. The emotional plea came after a series of dawn raids conducted by riot squad police officers in hazmat suits at Hassan’s East London residence, as part of the extensive operation to locate the 35-year-old suspect.
Abdul Ezedi is wanted in connection with a horrifying chemical attack in Clapham, South West London, where a mother and her two young daughters fell victim to a corrosive substance. Ezedi is also alleged to have attempted to run over the mother with his car during the same incident.
Hassan Ezedi expressed his anguish, stating, “If I knew where he was, I’d turn him in for what he did. I don’t know if he’s alive or where he is now. I saw him briefly last week. He wasn’t living with me. He was in Newcastle.”
The 31-year-old mother, who was known to Ezedi, sustained life-changing injuries in the attack and remains in critical condition at a hospital. Her daughters, aged three and eight, are also hospitalized but are showing signs of improvement, with doctors indicating that their injuries will not be life-altering.
Three brave women who came to the aid of the victims and suffered burns in the process have been discharged from the hospital. Additionally, five police officers who sustained minor injuries have returned to duty.
Abdul Ezedi, an Afghan asylum-seeker with a previous conviction as a sex offender, reportedly suffered serious injuries to his right eye and face while travelling 291 miles from his Newcastle residence to allegedly carry out the attack. Despite an extensive search operation and all-ports alert, he remains at large.
CCTV footage captured Ezedi at King’s Cross station in central London, where he boarded a southbound Victoria Line Tube just 90 minutes after the attack.
A significant development in the investigation came as police discovered two empty containers with corrosive warnings on the label at an address in Newcastle. Forensic tests are currently underway to determine if the containers held the same substance used in the Clapham attack.
The discovery has raised suspicions that Ezedi had premeditated the chemical assault, possibly pouring the contents of an alkaline fluid, such as oven cleaner, into two metal silver flasks found at the scene.
Metropolitan Police Commander Jon Savell appealed for Abdul Ezedi to surrender and seek medical assistance. He also cautioned the public not to approach the fugitive and to call 999 immediately if they spot him.
