Body recovered from Thames formally identified as Clapham chemical attack suspect

A body recovered from the River Thames on Monday of last week has been formally identified as the Clapham chemical attack suspect Abdul Shokoor Ezedi.

Police began hunting for Ezedi, 35, after a woman and her two young daughters were attacked with an alkaline liquid near Clapham Common, on January 31.

Ezedi was last seen on CCTV leaning over Chelsea Bridge.

He was formally identified on Thursday. A post-mortem examination on Wednesday of last week confirmed Ezedi’s cause of death was drowning. 

His family has been informed of this development and a file has been passed to the coroner, the Met said.

Police believe after the attack, Ezedi fled the scene and initially used his bank card to travel on the Tube before walking a route along the River Thames.

The Met said the motivation for the attack appears to be the “breakdown of a relationship”. Officers said the mother agreed to meet Ezedi on the day of the incident.

Commander Jon Savell said: “As the public would expect, our enquiries continue into this atrocious attack. 

“The 31-year-old woman is still in hospital and remains in a stable condition and no longer sedated. We have still not been able to speak to her but hope to as soon as she is well enough.”

Pictured top:  The body of Abdul Shokoor Ezedi was recovered from the River Thames last week (Picture: The Met)