What we know and don't know about the alkaline attack in Clapham
The suspect in the alkaline attack in Clapham, south London, that left a toddler and her mother with potentially life-changing injuries, has been named as 35-year-old Abdul Shakoor Ezedi.
The Metropolitan Police has launched a manhunt for Ezedi, who is from the Newcastle area and is said to have “significant injuries to the right side of his face”.
A 31-year-old woman, believed to be known to Ezedi, and her three-year-old daughter – alongside her other daughter, aged eight – remain in hospital in a stable condition. Their identities have not been confirmed. Twelve people were injured in the attack on Wednesday night.
Here’s a breakdown of what we know – and what we don’t know – about the incident in Clapham:
What we know
The attack took place at around 7.25pm in Lessar Avenue near Clapham Common and involved an alkaline substance. Police have confirmed the suspect and the 31-year-old mother were known to each other.
The suspect, described as "dangerous by police, allegedly threw the younger child to the ground in the attack. Police said in his attempt to drive away from the scene, the attacker crashed into a stationary vehicle and fled on foot.
No arrests have been made. The Met Police is working with Northumbria Police and British Transport Police to locate Ezedi, who police said may be trying to return to the North East.
In CCTV footage appearing to show the attack unfold, one person can be seen being hit by a white car and a younger-looking person is seemingly thrown to the ground. Police can then be seen on camera coming to the aid of victims.
Eyewitnesses have spoken of witnessing “horrific” scenes after coming out of their homes when they heard a crash.
Three members of the public who came to the aid of the family, two in their 30s and one in her 50s, have all been discharged from hospital with minor burns injuries.
The force said five officers who responded to the incident have also been treated and have now left hospital.
Superintendent Gabriel Cameron, a senior officer who polices in Lambeth, confirmed on 1 February that none of their conditions were life-threatening. However, he said that the injuries to the woman and younger girl could be life-changing and that it may be some time before hospital staff are able to say how serious that might be.
He also said that the suspect may have been known to police.
Supt Cameron confirmed that three women – two in their 30s and one in her 50s – were injured when they came to the aid of the family. They have all been discharged from hospital with minor burns injuries.
A man in his 50s, who also helped, declined hospital treatment for minor injuries. Five officers who were injured as they responded have all been treated and have left hospital.
What we don’t know
While we know the victims were known to the man, we don’t yet know their identities. Nor is the extent and specifics of their injuries known.
Police have so far yet to determine what the motive was behind the attack.
And while photos and CCTV footage from the scene show two subsequently abandoned vehicles – a white hatchback with its doors open and a silver hatchback - police have not said if either of these vehicles belonged to the attacker or the victims.
It is not clear what happened in the run-up to the alleged attack either and whether the man followed the family or knew where they would be at a specific time of the day.
Eyewitness accounts
Eyewitnesses have also spoken about what they saw in the moments after the attack.
One told the BBC the mother cried: "I can't see, I can't see" as he tried to help. "It was quite horrific," he added.
The eyewitness said he and his partner live on Lessar Avenue and ran onto the street after they heard a car crash and a cry for help. He recalled: "We came outside and saw this guy and he took a girl out of the car and he slammed her to the ground twice.
"I chased him half way down the road, but I was in slippers so didn't get very far. As I came back, that's when I saw the woman who had been attacked... so I ran inside to get some water and just sprayed her down with water.”
Another witness, bus driver Shannon Christi, told the PA Media news agency she was affected by the substance while trying to help the woman and two children outside her home. She said: “I heard a bang and I heard someone saying ‘help’.
“I run outside and as I run outside I’ve seen this guy throwing a child on the floor, he picked her up and threw her again. So, at that point I ran in and I grabbed her and took her into my block… At that point my skin started tingling as well, and my face started tingling.”
Christi said staff took the toddler into the Clapham South Belvedere Hotel before going to wash her own arms and face. She continued: “I’ve done that but my lips were still tingling, kept burning, kept tingling, so I sat in the ambulance for a bit and then they took me to hospital. It all happened so fast.”
