Clapham attack suspect Abdul Ezedi jumped off a bridge into the River Thames and drowned, police believe
Metropolitan police officers have been pursuing the 35-year-old Afghan asylum seeker since Wednesday, January 31, when he allegedly doused a mother and her two daughters in a chemical substance.
The authorities now suspect that the individual, identified as Ezedi, has potentially perished after last being sighted on Chelsea Bridge at 11:27 pm on the night of the attack last week. They are currently searching the River Thames in an attempt to locate his body.
During a briefing at Scotland Yard, Commander Jon Savell stated, "We have diligently analyzed the CCTV footage over the past 24 hours, and it is our primary working theory that he may have entered the water. We have thoroughly examined all available camera feeds, including those provided by Transport for London and CCTV footage from passing buses on the bridge at the relevant time, with no sightings of him exiting the bridge."
There exists no additional CCTV footage of the suspect beyond his last sighting on the bridge, and law enforcement officials do not believe he has made contact with anyone else, the authorities confirmed.
A behavioral psychologist engaged by the police to assess the footage has suggested the possibility that Ezedi may have taken his own life.
According to Commander Jon Savell, "Given the current time of year, the Thames is characterized by rapid flow, considerable width, and numerous obstructions. It is plausible that if he entered the water, he may not resurface for several weeks, and there remains the grim possibility that he may never be recovered."
Ezedi was observed to be walking purposefully before his demeanor noticeably changed upon reaching the bridge. "He exhibited a behavior change, pacing back and forth and leaning over the railings," noted a Metropolitan Police spokesperson.
Commander Jon Savell remarked that had the suspect not entered the water, authorities would have been confident in locating him.
This development follows the execution of warrants by officers from the Metropolitan and Northumbria police services at locations associated with the suspect, including his workplace, in the north Tyneside area, as announced on Thursday.
Ezedi, hailing from the Newcastle area, stands accused of splashing a strong alkali substance on his ex-partner and her two young children, aged three and eight, on Wednesday, January 31, in Clapham, south London.
The woman, who faces the potential loss of sight in her right eye due to the corrosive liquid, had been involved in a relationship with Ezedi.
She remains hospitalized and under sedation, rendering her unable to communicate with law enforcement officials, as previously confirmed by the police.
Ezedi sustained significant facial injuries in the incident, which authorities had earlier warned could be fatal if left untreated.
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