LONDON, UK – Three of the UK’s largest police forces are leading a nationwide manhunt for a suspect accused of carrying out an alkali attack on a mother and her two young daughters in south London. The Metropolitan Police has urged the public not to approach the suspect, identified as Abdul Shokoor Ezedi, and to call 999 if he is spotted.
The attack, which involved a corrosive substance, resulted in serious injuries for the 31-year-old woman and her two daughters, aged three and eight, who were taken to the hospital. During the incident, five Met Police officers and four members of the public who attempted to help were also injured. Witnesses reported that the attacker fled the scene by foot after a failed attempt to escape in a car.
Abdul Shokoor Ezedi, 35, is originally from Afghanistan and is believed to have traveled from Newcastle to south London to carry out the attack. He has a history of legal issues, including a 2018 conviction for “sexual assault/exposure” in Newcastle. After completing his sentence, Ezedi was discharged from probation supervision. His asylum application, which had been rejected twice, was later approved on the basis of his conversion to Christianity and the perceived risk of returning to Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, the woman and her two daughters remain in the hospital, with the Met Police stating that their burns are substantial and potentially life-changing. Additionally, the responding police officers and members of the public who were injured have been treated and discharged from the hospital.
As law enforcement continues its search for Ezedi, the public is being asked to check home security cameras and dash cams for any footage that might help in tracking down the suspect. The former chief constable of Northumbria Police, Sue Sim, emphasized the importance of collaboration between different police forces and the use of CCTV footage to aid in the search for the suspect.
The nationwide manhunt for Abdul Shokoor Ezedi has brought a sense of urgency to the investigation, with authorities working tirelessly to ensure the safety of the public and bring the suspect to justice.