Clapham attack - investigation continues one week on

A week on from the attack in Clapham in which a mother and her children had a corrosive substance thrown at them, detectives have a clearer idea of the possible motive.

Extensive work to analyse data from mobile phones belonging to both wanted Abdul Ezedi and the 31-year-old victim have shown they had been in a relationship but it broke down.

Commander Jon Savell said: “Our investigation team has been working tirelessly to piece together information to discover what happened.

“While we still retain an open mind, it appears the motivation for this truly awful attack is the breakdown of a relationship.

“The woman remains in a critical but stable condition in hospital. As we know she has very serious injuries and remains sedated and so poorly we haven’t yet been able to speak to her.

“This was a senseless and cruel attack by a dangerous man – we urge anyone with information about Ezedi’s whereabouts to contact us as matter of urgency. He is wanted for attempted murder.”

Our Specialist Crime investigation team have also been working closely with medical experts to understand the extent of Ezedi’s own injuries. CCTV footage shows him with significant injuries to the right side of his face.

Commander Savell added: “We have worked with the National Crime Agency to commission medical experts to provide an assessment of Ezedi’s injuries.

“Those experts are clear Ezedi suffered a significant injury in the attack and is in increasing danger of an infection if he does not seek urgent medical attention. That will be extremely serious, if not life-threatening.

“To the best of our knowledge he has not been to hospital or sought professional medical help. At our request, all hospitals remain on high-alert. As time goes on, Ezedi’s health will continue to deteriorate.

”Ezedi – hand yourself into police, not only so we can speak to you, but so you can get the urgent medical treatment you obviously need.”

Darius Nasimi, from the charity the Afghanistan & Central Asian Association, said: “This is a tragic incident for this mother and her two children. Violence against women and girls can not be tolerated.

“I would urge the Afghan community to help the police and provide any information at all about where Ezedi is, who is providing him with accommodation, who is harbouring him and helping him evade capture. You can also speak to our charity and we will help liaise with the police and pass information on if you feel you don’t want to speak to them directly.

“I make a direct appeal to him – hand yourself in. This has been going on for long enough. You need medical attention.

“What has happened in this case should have no reflection on the people of Afghanistan in the UK. This does not represent them.

Detailed and lengthy analysis of CCTV continues to track Ezedi’s next movements on the night of the attack. Since his last confirmed position passing the Unilever building, we now know he continued walking towards Westminster and later crossed Vauxhall Bridge at 23:00hrs. New footage and a new image has been released today.

The manhunt is being led and co-ordinated by the Specialist Crime Command, with a team of more than 100 officers dedicated to the investigation from across a range of areas and specialisms including experienced detectives through to local neighbourhood officers.

We have the expertise of the Counter Terrorism fugitive team who are highly experienced in leading manhunts and tracking offenders via CCTV. The Met is also being supported by dozens of officers from forces across the UK including Northumbria and British Transport Police. We remain in liaison with the National Crime Agency, the Home Office, UK Border Force and UK Visas and Immigration.

Details of Ezedi have been circulated to all UK police forces and ports.

A team of officers will return to the scene tonight at 19:25hrs, exactly one week on from the attack, to speak to people in the area and hand out appeal leaflets.

The attack happened after Ezedi travelled from Newcastle that day to meet the woman. The attack happened inside Ezedi’s car in Lessar Avenue SW4, injuring the woman and her children, and Ezedi. Several other people, including police officers, were injured as they came to help.

Our 27/4 dedicated hotline has so far taken around 200 calls from members of the public calling in information. About another 200 have been made to 101 and 999 and a similar amount received via other forces. We are incredibly grateful to the public for this brilliant response. Please keep the calls coming – we are following up every single piece of information.

You can speak to the investigation team via our hotline on 020 7175 2784, or for an immediate sighting dial 999. A £20,000 reward remains on offer for information leading to Ezedi’s arrest.

A 22-year-old man was arrested on Monday 5 February on suspicion of assisting an offender. He was taken into custody and later released on bail pending further enquiries.

Updated timeline of Ezedi’s movements on Wednesday, 31 January

• 00:15 – Ezedi’s vehicle is seen in Newcastle
• 06:30 – His vehicle is then seen traveling into Tooting, London
• 16:30 – A further sighting of his vehicle is confirmed in Croydon
• 19:00 – He is then seen driving in Streatham
• 19:25 – Attack takes place in Lessar Avenue, SW4, before Ezedi makes off in his vehicle which crashes nearby. He leaves the car and runs off.
• 19:33 – Ezedi boards a train at Clapham South Tube Station.
• 19:59 – He is then seen leaving that train at King’s Cross Tube Station.
• 20:42 – He is then seen on CCTV leaving Tesco at 21 Caledonian Rd, London N1 9DX. He exits and turns right.
• 21:00 - Ezedi enters King’s Cross Tube Station and boards a Victoria Line tube southbound.
• 21:10 – He gets off at Victoria Tube Station and heads towards the district line.
• 21:16 – Ezedi boards an eastbound District Line train.
• 21:33 – Ezedi exits Tower Hill Tube Station.
• 21:47 - He is seen on Allhallows Lane, EC3. He travels through a passage to Cousin Lane. Then he turns right, walking towards Upper Thames Street.
• 21:51 - He then turns left onto Upper Thames Street
• 21:54 – He travels along Upper Thames Street
• 21:59 – Ezedi passes the City of London School on Pauls Walk EC4, heading towards Blackfriars Bridge. He passes the riverboat pier.
• 22:04 – He then passes the Unilever building and heads towards Victoria Embankment.
• 22:06 – Ezedi passes Carmelite House, junction with Carmelite Street towards Temple.
  22:28 - He passes Westminster Pier, goes up steps and continues towards Westminster.
  22:33 - Ezedi seen walking south on Westminster bridge (footage released today)
• 22:36 – He walks across Westminster Bridge, down steps on the London Eye side towards Lambeth
• 22:42 – Ezedi seen walking west on south Thames Path towards Lambeth Bridge
• 22:55 – He travels along the Albert Embankment approaching Vauxhall Bridge (image released today)
• 23:00 – Ezedi crosses Vauxhall Bridge towards stairs (Houses of Parliament side of the river)
• 23:03 - He crosses Vauxhall Bridge Road, into Grosvenor Road.