Questions around Abdul Ezedi’s stay following sex offence conviction
Questions have been raised around how Abdul Ezedi was able to stay in the country following his sex offence conviction.
Speaking on the Trevor Phillips On Sunday programme on Sky News, education secretary Gillian Keegan said: “I think that (asylum) is something that more than one person is asking.
“My understanding is the home secretary has asked for all the details but this (case) is not really about asylum.”
Abdul Ezedi is the suspect in an attack
(PA Media)
Shadow digital minister Sir Chris Bryant told the same programme that Ezedi should not have been granted asylum.
In the main, on the face of it, if everything that we have been told is true, then it seems absolutely extraordinary that the British people should be put at such risk from this person. Of course it’s something we might need to look at.
Sir Chris Bryant
Namita Singh5 February 2024 04:30
Timeline of events – Thursday, Friday and Saturday
Overnight Thursday to Friday
Police carry out a total of five search warrants, at two addresses in east London and three in Newcastle.
– Friday
– 3.36pm – Police hold a press conference, giving a timeline of Ezedi’s movements, an update on the condition of the mother and her daughters and issuing new images of Ezedi at King’s Cross underground station.
Commander Jon Savell makes a direct appeal to Ezedi to hand himself into police, so he can get the urgent medical treatment he needs.
– Saturday
– 4.55pm – Police release footage of empty containers with corrosive warnings being found in a raid on an address in Newcastle.
Lydia Patrick5 February 2024 04:00
Afghan charity appeals for alkali attack suspect to turn himself in
A charity which helps Afghan nationals in the UK has appealed for alkali attack suspect Abdul Ezedi to turn himself in.
Ezedi, from the Newcastle area, is thought to have arrived in the UK from Afghanistan on the back of a lorry in 2016, and since claimed to have converted to Christianity, which would have put him at risk following the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan.
He was granted asylum in the UK after two failed attempts and was able to stay in the country despite being convicted of a sex offence in 2018.
In an appeal directly to Ezedi, Darius Nasimi, of the charity the Afghanistan & Central Asian Association, told him to go to a police station “immediately”.
He said: “You have a serious injury that needs to be seen to but, more importantly, you must do the right thing and hand yourself in to police.
“This has gone on for long enough.
“You can contact the charity if you wish and we can speak to you, and work together so that you can help the police with their enquiries.
“Abdul, please contact us as soon as you can, call 999, or go to a police station.”
Namita Singh5 February 2024 03:30
Timeline of events – Thursday
– Around 9.30am – Scotland Yard says the 31-year-old woman and three-year-old girl have potentially life-changing injuries.
– 1.35pm – Ezedi’s identity is revealed and members of the public are warned to stay away from him.
The Met said it is working with Northumbria Police as the wanted man may be trying to return to the North East.
– 4pm – There was a heightened police presence on Caledonian Road, as unmarked cars with blue sirens could be seen and police vehicles drove around the area.
– 6pm -The image of Ezedi buying a bottle of water is released.
A CCTV image of Abdul Ezedi, the suspect in the Clapham alkali attack, at Tesco in Caledonian Road, north London (Metropolitan Police/PA)
(PA Wire)
Lydia Patrick5 February 2024 03:00
Timeline of events – Wednesday
– 00.15am – Ezedi’s vehicle is seen in Newcastle, where he had been living.
– 6.30am – His vehicle is seen travelling into Tooting, south London.
– 4.30pm – A further sighing of his car is confirmed in Croydon.
– 7pm – He is then seen driving in Streatham.
– 7.25pm -The attack on a 31-year-old woman, believed to be known to Ezedi, who was with her daughters, aged three and eight, takes place in Lessar Avenue.
Ezedi makes off in his car which crashes nearby. He then leaves the vehicle and runs off.
The Metropolitan Police was called to the scene, with 12 people, including five officers, injured.
– 7.33pm – Ezedi boards a train at Clapham South Tube station.
– 7.59pm – He leaves that train at King’s Cross Tube station.
– 8.42pm – He is seen on CCTV leaving Tesco at 21 Caledonian Road. He exits and turns right. He has significant injuries and is believed to have bought a bottle of water.
– 9pm – Ezedi enters King’s Cross Tube station and boards a Victoria Line Tube southbound.
-9.10pm – Ezedi arrives at Victoria Station and then boards a District Line Tube eastbound at 9.16pm.
– 9.33pm – The suspect is seen leaving Tower Hill Underground Station in the last recorded sighting of him.
Lydia Patrick5 February 2024 02:00
ICYMI – Passerby saved three-year-old girl, witness says
A passerby stopped a fugitive from slamming a three-year-old girl into the floor by rugby tackling him to the ground, a witness said.
“We had no idea any substance was involved; only that the guy was clearly intent on hurting the [three-year-old],”a witness told The Times.
“He then went to pick the child up off the road to do it [throw the child to the ground] again, which is when my partner lunged in and tackled him, grabbing his leg and falling to the ground in the process like a rugby tackle.”
Britain Corrosive Substance
((Metropolitan Police via AP)
Lydia Patrick5 February 2024 01:00
Police ‘fear organised criminals could be helping Ezedi to evade capture’
Officers with the National Crime Agency drafted in by police to help with the search for Abdul Ezedi on Saturday night are focusing on whether the fugitive may be receiving help from an organised crime group to evade capture, according to The Times.
On Sunday, it emerged that the Border Force has also been brought into the manhunt, suggesting there are concerns that he could attempt to flee the country.
Details of Ezedi have been circulated to all UK police forces and ports, Scotland Yard said.
Andy Gregory5 February 2024 00:04
Minister says Clapham chemical attack case ‘not really about asylum’ as manhunt enters fourth day
Asked how the suspect had been granted asylum after being found guilty of a sexual offence, Ms Keegan said that “is something that more than one person is asking”. “But this is not really about asylum,” Ms Keegan added, in comments likely to upset the Tory right.
Her comments come after former home secretary Suella Braverman said the attack showed why Britain “needs a fundamental overhaul of human rights laws”.
Lydia Patrick5 February 2024 00:00
Watch – Clapham attack suspect Abdul Ezedi filmed walking through Tesco on CCTV as search continues
Clapham attack suspect Abdul Ezedi filmed walking through Tesco on CCTV as search continues
Lydia Patrick4 February 2024 23:00
Mapped – Abdul Ezedi’s movements
Clapham alkali attack: Abdul Ezedi’s movements
(PA Wire)
Lydia Patrick4 February 2024 22:00
