COPS are today searching the River Thames for the alleged Clapham chemical attacker Abdul Ezedi as it’s believed he “jumped and drowned” having crossed Chelsea Bridge.
Met Police think the 35-year-old suspect went into the water in West London on the night of the attack, having walked “with purpose” for a number of hours.
The wanted man is thought to have gone into the River Thames
Met PoliceEzedi was last seen on Chelsea Bridge[/caption]
Met PoliceThe last sighting was on Chelsea Bridge just before 11.30pm[/caption]
CCTV footage show him leaning over the bridge before he disappears out of sight, cops say.
Ezedi is wanted in connection with the dousing of a mum and her daughters with an alkaline substance on the night of January 31.
He was last seen on Chelsea Bridge at 11.27pm, around four hours after the attack in Clapham, South London.
Ezedi was not seen leaving the bridge.
Officers said at a briefing on Friday that the search of the Thames would take place at low tide and involve boats from the Marine Policing Unit.
The force said at this time of year, the river was very fast flowing and full of snags and it was possible that Ezedi’s body may never surface.
Cmdr Jon Savell said officers had spent the last 24 hours “meticulously” following CCTV and their “main working hypothesis” was that Ezedi had gone into the water.
He said: “We have looked at all of the available cameras and angles, and with the assistance of Transport for London and CCTV from buses that were travelling over the bridge at the relevant time, and there is no sighting of him coming off the bridge.”
Cmdr Savell added that a marine support unit would also be “carrying out some searches of the Thames” where he was last seen.
He said that it was likely it would take “some time… for a person to surface and sadly, they may never actually be found”.
Police have been in contact with a member of Ezedi’s family to “break that news” with them.
Det Supt Rick Sewart said death was the “most probable outcome” if Ezedi had gone into the water.
The Metropolitan Police said Clapham alkali attack suspect Ezedi’s “demeanour” appeared to change as he walked over Chelsea Bridge.
Savell added: “When he gets to Chelsea Bridge, his demeanour appears to change.
“I would describe him previously as walking sort of purposefully, as if he knew where he was going and he was walking at a reasonable pace.
“As he gets onto Chelsea Bridge, he does cross the bridge more than once.
“And then when he gets back to the centre, he appears to be moving from the railings back to the pavement and looking over the edge of the railings.
“So a distinct change in how he’s been moving about.”
Two minutes later he was seen again on camera heading back to the north side of Chelsea Bridge.
PAEzedi is seen crossing the road as he approaches the bridge[/caption]
It is understood cops believe Abdul Ezedi has drowned Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
