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A BODY has been found in the hunt for chemical attacker Abdul Ezedi after he led police on a bizarre trail.
Ezedi, 35, went on the run after 12 people were injured in a horror chemical attack in Clapham, South West London, on January 31.
The Met launched a huge manhunt for the suspect, but three weeks later they have now found a body in their search.
Ezedi’s getaway after attacking the 31-year-old mum led police on a chase through London as they tracked his movements that night on CCTV cameras.
At 7.25pm, Ezedi attacked the woman with an alkaline substance leaving her in a critical condition and with horrific facial injuries.
He is believed by police to have previously been in a relationship with the victim.
Ezedi also suffered a hideous wound to the right side of his own face apparently sustained during the attack.
Ezedi then drove at the woman with a car and crashed before fleeing on foot.
CCTV footage captures the injured attacker catching a tube at 7.33pm from Clapham South to King’s Cross.
At 8pm, he is seen leaving King’s Cross tube station.
About 40 minutes later he is seen buying a bottle of water at a Tesco on Caledonian Road in North London.
Cops released CCTV footage of Ezedi calmly walking through the supermarket as shoppers appear to miss his disfigured face.
He then gets back onto the tube at Kings Cross and jumps on a Victoria Line train southbound.
At 9.10pm, he gets off at Victoria Line and heads toward the District Line which he catches to Tower Hill Tube.
He hops off at Tower Hill and CCTV shows him walking west by Southwark Bridge and on to Blackfriars where he was seen outside a Unilever building at 10.04pm.
He carried on walking west, his route hugging the Thames and he passed only yards from New Scotland Yard before crossing over Westminster Bridge.
He was last spotted on CCTV at Chelsea bridge just before 11.30pm, four hours after the attack.
Police have since said they believe he died after jumping into the Thames River off Chelsea Bridge.
Police today confirmed a body was recovered on Monday at 4pm from Tower Pier.
Police raided two homes in east London and three in Newcastle with police conducting forensic tests on chemical containers found.
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.
”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.”
Everything we know about Ezedi
Does Ezedi have a criminal record?
Ezedi was convicted of a sexual offence in 2018 and given a suspended sentence at Newcastle Crown Court.
The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed he was sentenced on January 9 of that year after pleading guilty to one charge of sexual assault and one of exposure.
He was put on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.
Why was Ezedi given asylum in the UK?
Ezedi was granted asylum in 2020 on his third attempt – after he was convicted of the sex offence.
He reportedly arrived in the UK on the back of a lorry in 2016 and claimed to have converted to Christianity to back up his asylum bid.
A priest told the Telegraph that Ezedi had converted to Christianity and was “wholly committed” to his new religion.
What happened to Ezedi’s face?
CCTV from Wednesday night shows Ezedi with what police have described as very “significant injuries to the right side of his face”.
Met Police Commander Jon Savell addressed him directly, saying: “Abdul, you clearly have got some very significant injuries.
“We’ve seen the images. You need some medical help, so do the right thing and hand yourself in.”
