London police have confirmed that the body pulled from the River Thames has been identified as that of Abdul Ezedi, the man wanted in connection with a chemical attack that injured his former partner and her two young daughters. The Metropolitan Police stated that Ezedi's body was formally identified on Thursday, with the cause of death confirmed as drowning following a post-mortem examination.
The 31-year-old woman who was the victim of the attack remains in the hospital in stable condition and is no longer sedated. Authorities are hoping to speak with her once she is well enough to provide more information about the incident.
The attack took place in the Clapham area of south London on Jan. 31, where the mother-of-two was doused with a corrosive alkali. One of her daughters, aged 8, was also injured by the chemical, while the other, aged 3, had her head slammed into the ground during the assault.
Ezedi, who had sustained significant injuries to the right side of his face, had been the subject of a nationwide manhunt following the attack. CCTV footage helped authorities track his movements after the incident, leading them to believe that he had entered the River Thames.
A passing boat crew reported seeing a body in the water near the Tower of London on Monday, which was later identified as Ezedi. Reports indicate that Ezedi was an Afghan refugee who had been granted asylum in the UK despite a prior conviction for a sex offense in 2018. Initially rejected for asylum, he was allowed to stay in the country after claiming to have converted to Christianity.
