£20,000 Bounty for Information on Fugitive Suspect in Clapham Chemical Attack
The victim of a horrific chemical assault in Clapham, who is currently fighting for her life, is an asylum seeker from Afghanistan, it has been revealed. The police have now put forth a £20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the suspect, Abdul Ezedi.
Ezedi, also an Afghan asylum seeker, is now the subject of a massive manhunt following the attack involving a corrosive substance. Despite a previous conviction for sexual offences in the UK and being listed on the sex offender register, Ezedi had been granted asylum.
The case has prompted former home secretaries, including Suella Braverman and Priti Patel, to advocate for stricter controls on asylum seekers. However, it is crucial to note that the 31-year-old female victim, who is in critical condition, had also sought asylum in the UK due to the genuine fear of persecution in her native Afghanistan.
The corrosive liquid used in the attack has been identified as either liquid sodium hydroxide or liquid sodium carbonate, according to Commander Jon Savell. The liquid is being compared with containers seized from Ezedi's Newcastle residence.
The victim, who was known to Ezedi, has sustained life-altering injuries. While some sources suggest a past relationship between the two, the two children present at the time of the attack were not Ezedi's.
Ezedi had claimed Hazara ethnicity and conversion to Christianity to secure asylum, which was granted after a priest testified to his regular church attendance. It was also noted that Afghanistan was deemed too dangerous for deportation, even if Ezedi's appeals had failed.
Despite the extensive manhunt and public appeals for information, there have been no confirmed sightings of Ezedi since the day of the attack. Savell urged the public to assist with any information, warning that anyone found aiding Ezedi will be arrested.
New information has been released about Ezedi's last known movements, last seen leaving Tower Hill underground station at 9.33pm on Wednesday.
The victim's daughters also sustained injuries in the attack, but not as severe as initially feared. A heroic intervention by a finance worker saved the younger child from further assault.
The police's renewed plea for information, paired with the reward, has led to various appeals, including from the Afghanistan and Central Asian Association, urging Ezedi to surrender.
Braverman and Patel have used this case to critique churches they claim facilitate "bogus asylum claims." The Church of England has stated it had no record of Ezedi and that asylum vetting is the responsibility of the Home Office.
News Agencies