1 of 2 | British police have released a photo of the suspect, Abdul Shokoor Ezedi, that was taken about an hour after he attacked a mother and her two children with alkaline on Wednesday evening. Photo courtesy of Metropolitan Police/X
Feb. 2 (UPI) — A manhunt is underway in London for a suspect who attacked a mother and her children with a corrosive substance in the city earlier this week.
The Metropolitan Police on Thursday evening released a photo of the suspect who has been identified as Abdul Shokoor Ezedi. The image was taken at a Tesco store shortly before 8:50 p.m. Wednesday, a little more than an hour after he is accused of attacking the woman and her two daughters following a traffic accident in Clapham, South London.
He is accused of throwing one of the children to the ground and of dousing them in a corrosive substance that has since been determined to be alkaline. Three women and a man in his 50s who came to their aid were also injured along with five responding police officers.
Ezedi attempted to flee the scene in a car but crashed into a stationary vehicle, and escaped on foot.
The image of Ezedi shows what The Met described as “significant injuries” to his right eye and face.
Ezedi is believed to have purchased a bottle of water before leaving the store, the police statement said.
“If you see Ezedi, call 999 immediately,” it said, referring to Britain’s emergency telephone number. “He should NOT be approached.”
The Met’s Superintendent Gabriel Cameron earlier Thursday said the 31-year-old mother and her 8-year-old and 3-year-old daughters remain hospitalized, and while their injuries are not life-threatening those suffered by the mother and her youngest child “could be life-changing.”
“It may be some time before hospital staff are able to say how serious that might be,” he said.
The three injured woman, two of who are in their 30s and one in her 50s, have since been discharged from the hospital with only minor burns, he said, adding that the five officers have also been treated and released.
The man who was also injured had declined hospital treatment, he said.
Cameron revealed Thursday that it is believed that the suspect and the mother are known to each other, and that the attack appears to have been “targeted.”
“He is a dangerous individual and we urgently need to find him,” he said.
“I don’t underestimate the impact this news will have had on the local community. My officers are in the area carrying out patrols and I urge you to speak to them if you have any information or concerns you want to share.”
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