Clapham 'acid attack' live: Victims suffer potentially life-changing ...

He is Abdul Ezdi, said to be around 35, and was last spotted in north London. It is believed he is from Northumbria.

He fled the scene in a vehicle, a Hyundia car, before going on foot.

Supt Gabriel Cameron told journalists: “We will catch him”. He also urged people not to approach him and call police immediately.

CCTV appears to capture moment Clapham ‘acid attack’ unfolded

CCTV footage appears to capture the south London chemical attack unfolding which left a woman and her two children injured. Police say a “corrosive substance” was thrown during the attack on Lessar Avenue, Clapham, shortly before 7:30pm on Wednesday 31 January. In the footage, a figure is seen running around a car before getting into the driver’s seat, while a woman and child in front of him hold their hands to their faces. The individual then drives the vehicle towards the woman and knocks her down, before he gets out. People from neighbouring houses appear to chase the man down the road. Nine people were injured in the incident, and a manhunt is now under way to catch the suspect.

Police say the corrosive substance used in the Clapham attack was an alkaline. Acids and alkalis are two opposing groups of chemicals which are common in daily life, but which become highly corrosive the stronger they are. Andy Gregory reports:

Four bystanders - three women and a man - tried to stop the attacker and were injured in the process, said Lambeth Borough Commander Supt Gabriel Cameron.

He thanked them for intervening, and also thanked ambulance and fire crews.

Five police officers were also hurt.

“Thankfully no-one has got any life-threatening or life-changing injuries,” he said.

He appealed to anyone with information or dashcam footage to ring investigators on 020 7175 2784.

Ezedi is believed to have used a corrosive alkaline substance, but Supt Gabriel Cameron said he did not know whether it was a household product that was used to attack the mother and daughters.

Products such as bleach and oven cleaner are alkaline substances.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley described the incident as a “ghastly attack”.

“Fortunately, attacks using acid and chemicals are exceedingly rare. We did have a spate of them two or three years ago, you might remember,” he told the BBC.

“It’s not something we’ve seen much of at all recently, I’m pleased to say.”

The Met Police are also working with British Transport Police to track down the suspect, who is from Newcastle.

The suspect may have been known to police previously, the Metropolitan Police said.

“At this stage I believe he may have been known to police, but he’s not a local resident from London as far as I’m aware,” Supt Gabriel Cameron said.

“He’s come down from Newcastle.”

He said it was a “horrific crime” against a “vulnerable female”.

He added: “We will catch him, I am wholeheartedly confident.”

Supt Gabriel Cameron urged the public not to approach Ezedi, after the Metropolitan Police described him as a “dangerous individual”.

Ezedi is believed to have travelled down from Newcastle on the day of the attack, but detectives are unsure what led to the incident.

Mr Cameron said: “The male was last seen in the north London area – Caledonian Road – and if you see him… I plea for you not to approach him, call 999.”

Suspect Abdul Shokoor Ezedi was last seen on CCTV in north London, several miles from the attack: