Body found in River Thames in manhunt for Clapham chemical attack suspect Abdul Ezedi

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A body has been found in the River Thames by police searching for the Clapham chemical attack suspect Abdul Ezedi, almost three weeks after a major manhunt was launched.

The Metropolitan Police said they “strongly believe” the body pulled from the water in central London on Monday is Ezedi’s, based on his distinctive clothing.

However, it may take several weeks for formal identification and a post-mortem examination to take place, given that visual and fingerprint identification is impossible after a period of time being dragged by the strong current.

Following hundreds of tips from the public, the body was recovered more than four miles away from the last sighting of the wanted man, after the crew of a passing boat reported they had seen a body in the water at Tower Pier in Tower Hill at around 4pm on Monday.

It comes after a major manhunt was launched when Ezedi, from Newcastle, went on the run after allegedly pouring a strong, corrosive, alkaline substance on a mother and her two young daughters in Clapham, south London on 31 January.

The Met said in its update on Tuesday that the condition of the 31-year-old woman, who is Ezedi’s ex-partner, has improved after she endured significant facial injuries in the attack. She remains in hospital in a stable condition, while the children, aged eight and three, who are not Ezedi’s, were previously discharged.

Friends who are fundraising for the family said the “phenomenal” mother is desperate to be reunited with her daughters, describing her as “the strongest, most independent person we know”.

They said in a statement: “Mum’s still in critical care and desperate to be reunited with her girls. We know mum’s lost her sight in one eye, and we’re praying that it returns fully in the other ... she’s already making so much progress and is determined to get out of hospital as quickly as possible.”

Having already raised more than £44,000 for the family, they added: “The family were really struggling to make ends meet before the attack, so we just want ... to show mum and the girls that the wider community has their back and they can feel safe again.”

A possible motive for the attack considered by police was the breakdown of the woman’s relationship with Ezedi, who is a convicted sex offender, having been granted asylum in the UK on his third attempt after converting to Christianity.

As passers-by tried to intervene, 12 people were injured in the attack, during which Ezedi threw one of the children to the ground and suffered significant facial injuries himself. He crashed into a stationary vehicle while attempting to drive away from the scene, before fleeing on foot.

Following days of searching, the Metropolitan Police said on 9 February it believed Ezedi went into the River Thames in west London around four hours after the attack. He was spotted on CCTV leaning over the railings of Chelsea Bridge before disappearing from view in what was the last confirmed sighting of the suspect.

The manhunt subsequently focused on an area of the Thames between Vauxhall and Chelsea bridges over the following days, with crowds seen watching a circling police boat flashing lights and pausing beside a small ship before moving off again.

After 20 days of hunting, a body was recovered by the Met’s Marine Policing Unit at Tower Millennium Pier. It has subsequently been viewed by detectives working on the investigation.

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.”

The Met’s investigation into the attack continues and detectives have been carrying out further enquiries. Hundreds of members of the public called the force with information during the hunt, in what police described as an “overwhelming” show of support.

A 22-year-old man who was previously arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender remains on bail. There have been no more arrests. The Met said, while it continues to keep an open mind, it is not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident at this time.

In their search for Ezedi, officers raided two addresses linked to him in Newcastle upon Tyne, and also offered a £20,000 reward for anyone with information about his whereabouts.

The victim is no longer sedated and police said they hope to soon be able to speak with her.