Body thought to be Abdul Ezedi found in Thames

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.

The mother-of-two is no longer under sedation in hospital, but has lost the sight in one eye, according to friends. While formal identification has not taken place, Scotland Yard said all the indications were that the remains were those of Ezedi. 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.”

A manhunt was launched last month after Ezedi, a former asylum seeker, travelled from his home in Newcastle and attacked a woman he had been in a relationship with, throwing a powerful alkaline in her face. After the attack police pieced together his movements across London as he travelled on public transport. The last known sighting of him was on Chelsea Bridge at around 11.30pm on Jan 31. 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.

One worker who helps run tours from Tower Millenium Pier recounted noticing around three or four rescue boats on Monday afternoon along the stretch of water where Ezedi’s body is believed to have been retrieved.