Detectives spearheading the search for Abdul Ezedi, a man wanted in connection with a violent attack in Clapham, now suspect he may have entered the River Thames from Chelsea Bridge. The revelation follows intense scrutiny of CCTV footage from the area, with police efforts intensifying since the incident on January 31, which left a mother and her two children seriously injured.
The latest CCTV analysis reveals the last confirmed sighting of Ezedi crossing Chelsea Bridge just before 23:30 on the night of the attack. Subsequent footage indicates Ezedi’s disappearance, prompting authorities to piece together his movements meticulously, including examining videos from nearby buses.
Commander Jon Savell shared insights into the investigation, noting the likelihood of Ezedi entering the water based on his tracked movements from Tower Hill to Chelsea Bridge. Despite sustaining severe injuries in the attack, Ezedi managed to navigate through London, predominantly along the river, before his behavior noticeably changed midway across the bridge.
Given the circumstances of his disappearance and the strong currents of the Thames, experts from the National Crime Agency assess Ezedi’s survival chances as extremely slim. The Marine Policing Unit is set to conduct boat searches in the vicinity, though Ezedi’s body has yet to be found.
Ezedi’s family has been briefed on these developments and is receiving support from specialist officers. The police empathize with the family’s distress, acknowledging the complexity of their grief amid the ongoing investigation.
The search for Ezedi has galvanized public support, with around 500 tips from the community aiding police efforts. Commander Savell expressed gratitude for this overwhelming response and reaffirmed the commitment to thorough investigative work to ascertain the full details of that fateful night.
As the investigation continues, thoughts remain with the 31-year-old victim, who is fighting for her life in hospital, highlighting the far-reaching impact of this tragic series of events on all involved.
Updated timeline of Ezedi’s movements on Wednesday, 31 January
- 00:15 – Ezedi’s vehicle is seen in Newcastle
- 06:30 – His vehicle is then seen traveling into Tooting, London
- 16:30 – A further sighting of his vehicle is confirmed in Croydon
- 19:00 – He is then seen driving in Streatham
- 19:25 – Attack takes place in Lessar Avenue, SW4, before Ezedi makes off in his vehicle which crashes nearby. He leaves the car and runs off.
- 19:33 – Ezedi boards a train at Clapham South Tube Station.
- 19:59 – He is then seen leaving that train at King’s Cross Tube Station.
- 20:42 – He is then seen on CCTV leaving Tesco at 21 Caledonian Rd, London N1 9DX. He exits and turns right.
- 21:00 – Ezedi enters King’s Cross Tube Station and boards a Victoria Line tube southbound.
- 21:10 – He gets off at Victoria Tube Station and heads towards the district line.
- 21:16 – Ezedi boards an eastbound District Line train.
- 21:33 – Ezedi exits Tower Hill Tube Station.
- 21:47 – He is seen on Allhallows Lane, EC3. He travels through a passage to Cousin Lane. Then he turns right, walking towards Upper Thames Street.
- 21:51 – He then turns left onto Upper Thames Street
- 21:54 – He travels along Upper Thames Street
- 21:59 – Ezedi passes the City of London School on Pauls Walk, EC4, heading towards Blackfriars Bridge. He passes the riverboat pier.
- 22:04 – He then passes the Unilever building and heads towards Victoria Embankment.
- 22:06 – Ezedi passes Carmelite House, junction with Carmelite Street towards Temple.
22:28 – He passes Westminster Pier, goes up steps and continues towards Westminster.
22:33 – Ezedi seen walking south on Westminster bridge - 22:36– He walks across Westminster Bridge, down steps on the London Eye side towards Lambeth
- 22:42– Ezedi seen walking west on south Thames Path towards Lambeth Bridge
- 22:55– He travels along the Albert Embankment approaching Vauxhall Bridge
- 23:00– Ezedi crosses Vauxhall Bridge towards stairs (Houses of Parliament side of the river)
- 23:03 – He crosses Vauxhall Bridge Road, into Grosvenor Road.
- 23:10 – Ezedi walks west bound past the Shell petrol station
- 23:19 – He passes the Thames Water Building, Grosvenor Road, heading towards Chelsea Bridge
- 23:25 – He crosses over Chelsea Bridge and enters Battersea Park. (image released today)
- 23:27 – He crosses back over Chelsea Bridge towards the north side.
