Body of Abdul Ezedi found in River Thames, police say

CCTV images had tracked Ezedi’s whereabouts after a chemical attack in Clapham last month

Detectives searching for Abdul Ezedi, the man wanted for the corrosive substance attack on a mother and her children in Clapham, have recovered a body from the River Thames.

The body was spotted by a passing boat close to Tower Pier at around 4pm on Monday, Scotland Yard said.

It was recovered by officers from the Met’s Marine Policing Unit and is being examined by detectives working on the investigation.

While formal identification has not yet taken place, Scotland Yard said all the indications were that the remains were those of Ezedi.

Police said further tests would be needed to confirm the body recovered is Ezedi’s

Commander Jon Savell said: “Based on the distinctive clothing he was wearing at the time of the attack and property found on his body, we strongly believe we have recovered the body of Ezedi.

“We have been in contact with his family to pass on the news.

“As you may expect after a considerable period of time in the strong current of the Thames, formal identification is not possible visually, nor from fingerprints. We will work with the coroner on other ways to complete formal identification, such as DNA testing and dental records. That may take some time.

“Our enquiries continue into the attack. I am pleased to say the condition of the 31-year-old woman has improved. She remains in hospital but she is in a stable condition and no longer sedated. We have still not been able to speak to her but hope to as soon as she is well enough.

“Again, I thank all those hundreds of members of the public who called us with information during the hunt for Ezedi. The public support for our investigation was overwhelming and every piece of information provided was followed up.”

A huge manhunt was launched last month after Ezedi, a former asylum seeker, travelled from his home in Newcastle and allegedly attacked a woman he had been in a relationship with, throwing a powerful alkaline in her face.

Following the attack, police pieced together his movements across London as he travelled on public transport and walked through the city streets.

The last known sighting of him was on Chelsea Bridge at around 11.30pm on Jan 31.

On Feb 7, the Met Police said they believed that Ezedi had entered the river at that point and they have been searching for his body since.

Officers from the Marine Policing Unit have carried out a number of low tide searches in the area surrounding Chelsea Bridge and have been scanning the area downstream.

%n

Sign up to the Front Page newsletter for free: Your essential guide to the day’s agenda from The Telegraph – direct to your inbox seven days a week.