Police find empty containers with corrosive warning labels at address in Newcastle

Police found empty containers with corrosive warning labels on them while searching an address for a man wanted following a chemical attack in Clapham.

Footage shows officers entering the address in Newcastle – one of three to be inspected in the city, on top of two in east London.

Forensic tests are underway to see if the containers contained the substance used in the attack.

A nationwide manhunt for suspect Abdul Ezedi has entered its third day as police urged the seriously injured man to “do the right thing” and surrender.

Afghan-born Ezedi, who lived in Newcastle, was described by police as having “significant injuries to the right side of his face”.

Dozens of reported sightings have put him in Croydon and Streatham, as well as on a Victoria Line train, after Wednesday night’s “targeted” attack on a woman and her two daughters with an alkaline substance in Clapham.

The 31-year-old woman hit by the corrosive liquid has “life-changing” injuries and was “very unwell” last night. The injuries suffered by the girls, aged three and eight, are not as serious as first feared.

Ezedi’s relative told Sky News on Saturday that they were “concerned” for his welfare and wanted to know if he was “alive or dead”. They also claimed that he had a relationship with the victim.

It comes after detectives found two empty containers with corrosive warnings on the label following raids at an address in Newcastle.

Follow the latest updates below.

Police are calling on the suspect to surrender

08:06 , Will Mata

Police have made a desperate appeal for the Clapham alkali attack suspect, urging him to “do the right thing” and hand himself in as a manhunt continues.

Speaking outside Scotland Yard on Friday afternoon, Commander Jon Savell said his two young daughters, aged three and eight, had injuries which were “not as serious as first thought”.

Lydia Chantler-Hicks has the full story here.

Watch: He met the main calls for Ezedi to quit

08:09 , Will Mata

The MET police appealed to the suspect’s entry.

Abdul Ezedi’s brother appeals to the fugitive to give up

08:12 , Will Mata

Abdul Ezedi, the alleged Clapham chemical attacker, was urged by his own brother to hand himself in to police.

Hassan Ezedi spoke to the media on Friday night as police in riot gear raided his home in east London as they searched for the 35-year-old fugitive.

The full story of William Mata is here.

Police ‘interviewed residents in cars’

08:49 , Will Mata

The Metropolitan Police are said to have evacuated residents of an east London neighborhood at 2am on Friday and started asking questions.

Sky reported that an officer shouted: “We’re looking for someone. It’s not safe to be there, just in case there’s a danger we need to know about.”

Police also asked people in nearby cars if they saw a man with an injured eye.

‘Significant evidence’ found in manhunt

09:53 , Will Mata

Police searching for Abdul Ezedi said they had found “significant evidence” in the hunt for the fugitive.

Metropolitan Police Commander Jon Savell said “significant” evidence was taken in their late-night raids.

He said on Friday: “Five search warrants were executed last night – two in east London and three in Newcastle. We have recovered some important and important evidence which will help us in our investigation”.

The Home Secretary thanks the police for the ongoing search efforts

11:02 a.m , Sami Quadri

Everything we know so far

11:20 , Will Mata

What were his last known movements?

Detectives say Ezedi’s vehicle was seen in Newcastle at 00:15 on Wednesday. At 6.30am the vehicle was seen traveling in Tooting, south London.

Another sighting of his car was confirmed in Croydon at 4.30pm and he was seen driving in Streatham at 7pm.

Does he have any previous convictions?

Ezedi was convicted of a sex offense in 2018 and given a suspended sentence at Newcastle Crown Court.

The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed he was convicted on January 9 that year after pleading guilty to one count of sexual assault and one count of exposure. He was placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for 10 years.

What do we know about Ezedi’s immigration status?

He is believed to have been granted asylum in 2020 at his third attempt and despite his conviction.

He is believed to have arrived in the UK on the back of a lorry in 2016 and claimed to have converted to Christianity to support his asylum claim.

Was he injured in the Clapham attack?

CCTV from Wednesday evening shows Ezedi with what police described as “significant injuries to the right side of his face”.

At a press conference on Friday, Metropolitan Police Commander Jon Savell addressed him directly, saying: “Abdul, you’ve clearly suffered some very significant injuries… do the right thing and turn yourself in.”

The relative says Ezedi had a relationship with the victim

12:02 p.m , Will Mata

A relative of Abdul Ezedi told the media that the chemical attack suspect was in a relationship with a victim.

The 35-year-old is believed to be responsible for the attacks that injured 12 people, including a 31-year-old mother.

Sky reported on Saturday that a close relative revealed that Ezedi attacked someone he was romantically involved with.

Saturday afternoon: The search continues

13:13 , Will Mata

The search for suspected Clapham Common chemical attacker Abdul Ezedi has now entered its third day.

Police provided little information on Saturday about the condition of the man who remains at large despite searches in Newcastle and parts of London.

A 31-year-old woman known to Ezedi is said to be “very unwell” in hospital. Her two daughters are in a less serious condition.

Ezedi’s “Christianity” is under investigation

2:01 p.m , Will Mata

A priest confirmed that Ezedi had converted to Christianity and was “totally committed” to his new religion, The Daily Telegraph reported.

The Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle said in a statement it had “found nothing” to suggest he had converted to Catholicism, but checks were continuing.

It said: “Our thoughts and prayers are first and foremost with the victims of this horrific attack in south London.

“We can confirm that Abdul Shakoor Ezedi visited our Diocesan Refugee Project for Justice and Peace, a charity that helps a wide range of people who come to us in need.

“We are in the process of verifying whether this individual has been received into the Catholic faith in any of our parishes and so far we have found nothing to support this. We are also investigating whether he was helped in other ways.

“The Diocese will support police investigations in any way we can.”

The project says on its website that it provides food, toiletries and clothes to vulnerable people.

It does not engage in any asylum claims that clients may pursue, it is understood.

The PA news agency understands that Ezedi visited her recently and that nothing in the past “several years” of records suggests that he converted to Catholicism.

The Church of England said it was not currently aware of any links with its churches, with a spokesman adding that “the role of the Home Office, not the church, is to vet asylum seekers and judge the merits of their individual cases”. .

“He wanted to buy a car from me”

15:28 , Will Mata

Bilal Khan, owner of Billy’s Garage in Byker, near where Ezedi lived, said the wanted man was “perseverant” when he tried to buy him a car last summer.

Mr Khan said: “He approached me last year asking if I had a car for sale. I had one he was interested in and I told him the price. He was a very persistent guy, he doesn’t let things go. Easy.”

Mr Khan indicated that Ezedi lived in a nearby halfway house.

Found empty containers with corrosive warning labels

17:15 , King of Jordan

Police found them at an address in Newcastle, one of three that were searched in the city – on top of two in east London.

The Met released footage of officers entering the address.

Forensic tests are underway to see if the containers contained the substance used in the attack.

The public is urged to remain vigilant

17:19 , King of Jordan

The Metropolitan Police has repeatedly appealed to the public to help find the suspect, Abdul Ezedi, but reiterated that he should not be approached.

If you see him, you should call 999.

Commander Jon Savell: “I am urging the public today to remain vigilant and contact the police immediately if they have seen Ezedi or have any information about him.

“I would also like to reiterate that if you see Ezedi you should call 999 immediately. He should NOT be approached.”

Police are working with the National Crime Agency

17:21 , King of Jordan

The National Crime Agency is assisting in the search for Ezedi.

Other forces involved include British Transport Police, the Metropolitan Police and Northumbria Police.

Police received dozens of calls with information about Ezedi

17:23 , King of Jordan

The Met thanked the public for getting in touch with information.

Commander Jon Savell said: “I want to thank everyone who contacted the police to share what they knew.

“We have received dozens of calls with information, including possible sightings, and each piece of information has been recorded and forms part of our ongoing investigation.

“I can assure the public that my colleagues and I are fully committed to using every tool and tactic available for as long as it takes to find Abdul Ezedi.”

Ezedi’s relative vows to bring him inside

19:08 , King of Jordan

An unnamed relative told Sky News they planned to travel from London to Newcastle to try to find Ezedi.

They said, “His injury is very serious and he needs medical attention. I will bring him myself if I have to.”