LONDON, UK – Police in Clapham have released footage as they continue to search for the suspect in a corrosive-substance attack on a mother and her daughters. Video shows officers entering a property in Newcastle where containers with corrosive warnings were found. The mother injured in the attack remains in critical but stable condition in the hospital.
The Metropolitan Police said it had received dozens of calls following an appeal for information. Searches have taken place at two addresses in east London and three in Newcastle as police try to piece together the suspect’s movements. The wanted man was captured by CCTV at London Underground at King’s Cross and seen boarding a southbound Victoria line train at 21:00 GMT on Wednesday.
The mother, 31, remains “very poorly” with expected life-changing injuries, while her daughters, aged three and eight, suffered injuries not “as serious as first thought” and “not likely to be life-changing”. The Metropolitan Police confirmed that there were no developments in the search overnight.
Speaking at a news conference, Metropolitan Police Cdr Jon Savell called on the suspect, who has significant injuries to the right side of his face, to come forward. “Abdul, you clearly have got some very significant injuries,” Cdr Savell said. “We’ve seen the images. You need some medical help, so do the right thing and hand yourself in.”
Images of the suspect inside King’s Cross station, about 90 minutes after the attack, were released by police on Friday. “Significant and important pieces of evidence” were recovered following search warrants in east London and Newcastle, including two empty containers labelled with corrosive warnings at an address in Newcastle.
The BBC confirmed that the suspect had been convicted of a sexual offense in 2018 and was given a suspended sentence at Newcastle Crown Court, leading to questions about the handling of his case. It is not yet known which Christian denomination supported the suspect’s claim for asylum in the UK.
This attack has raised concerns about the handling of cases involving individuals with a history of sexual offenses and asylum status. The community is on edge as the suspect remains at large, and authorities are under pressure to ensure the safety of the public.