Abdul Ezedi manhunt LIVE: Police find empty containers with corrosive warning labels at address in Newcastle

The police found empty containers with corrosive warning labels on them while searching an address in the hunt for a man wanted over a chemical attack in Clapham.

Footage shows officers entering the address in Newcastle - one of three that have been inspected in the city, on top of two in east London.

Forensic tests are currently ongoing to see if the containers held the substance used in the attack.

The nationwide manhunt for suspect Abdul Ezedi has entered its third day as police urged the seriously injured man to "do the right thing" and hand himself in.

Afghan-born Ezedi, who lived in Newcastle, was described by police as having "significant injuries to the right side of his face".

Dozens of reported sightings put him in Croydon and Streatham as well as on a Victoria line Tube train after Wednesday night's "targeted" attack on a woman and her two daughters with an alkaline substance in Clapham.

The 31-year-old woman hit by the corrosive liquid has "life-changing" injuries and was "very poorly" last night. Injuries suffered by the girls, aged three and eight, are not as severe as was first feared.

Mr Ezedi's relative told Sky News on Saturday that they were "worried" for his welfare and wanted to know if he was "alive or dead". They also alleged that he was in a relationship with the female victim.

It comes after detectives found two empty containers with corrosive warnings on the label following raids on an address in Newcastle.

Follows the latest updates below.

Police appeal for suspect to turn himself in

08:06 , Will Mata

Police have made a desperate appeal to the Clapham alkaline attack suspect, urging him to "do the right thing" and hand himself in as a large-scale manhunt continues.

Speaking outside Scotland Yard on Friday afternoon, Commander Jon Savell said her two young daughters, aged three and eight, have injuries that are "not as serious as first thought".

Lydia Chantler-Hicks has the full story here.

Watch: Met chief appeals for Ezedi to give up

08:09 , Will Mata

The Met Police have appealed for the suspect to come in.

Abdul Ezedi's brother appeals for fugitive to give up

08:12 , Will Mata

Suspected Clapham chemical attacker Abdul Ezedi has been urged by his own brother to give himself up to police.

Hassan Ezedi spoke to the media on Friday night as police wearing riot gear raided his east London home while looking for the 35-year-old fugitive.

William Mata's full story is here.

Police 'interviewed residents in cars'

08:49 , Will Mata

The Metropolitan Police is said to have evacuated residents of an east London neighbourhood at 2am on Friday and started asking questions.

Sky reported that an officer shouted: "We are looking for someone. It's not safe to be in there, just in case there's a hazard we need to know about."

The police also asked people in cars nearby if they had seen a man with an injured eye.

"Significant evidence" found in manhunt

09:53 , Will Mata

Police searching for Abdul Ezedi have said they have found "significant evidence" in their search for the fugitive.

Metropolitan Police Commander Jon Savell said "important" pieces of evidence have been taken as part of their late night raids.

He said on Friday: "Last night, five search warrants were executed - two in east London and three up in Newcastle. We've recovered some significant and important pieces of evidence which will help with our investigation."

Home Secretary thanks police for ongoing search efforts

11:02 , Sami Quadri

Everything we know so far

11:20 , Will Mata

What were his last known movements?

Detectives say Ezedi’s vehicle was seen in Newcastle at 00.15am on Wednesday. By 6.30am the vehicle was seen travelling into Tooting, south London.

A further sighting of his car was confirmed in Croydon at 4.30pm and he was seen driving in Streatham at 7pm.

Does he have any previous convictions?

Ezedi was convicted of a sexual offence in 2018 and given a suspended sentence at Newcastle Crown Court.

The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed he was sentenced on January 9 of that year after pleading guilty to one charge of sexual assault and one of exposure. He was put on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.

What do we know about Ezedi’s immigration status?

He is believed to have been granted asylum in 2020 on his third attempt and despite his conviction.

It is thought he arrived in the UK on the back of a lorry in 2016 and had claimed to have converted to Christianity to back up his asylum bid.

Was he injured in the Clapham attack?

CCTV from Wednesday night shows Ezedi with what police have described as very “significant injuries to the right side of his face”.

At a press conference on Friday, Metropolitan Police commander Jon Savell addressed him directly, saying: “Abdul, you clearly have got some very significant injuries... do the right thing and hand yourself in.”

Relative says Ezedi was in relationship with victim

12:02 , Will Mata

A relative of Abdul Ezedi has told the press that the chemical attack suspect was in a relationship with a victim.

The 35-year-old is considered responsible for attacks that left 12 people injured, including a 31-year-old mother.

Sky reported on Saturday that a close relative had disclosed that Ezedi had attacked someone he had a romantic relationship with.

Saturday afternoon: Search continues

13:13 , Will Mata

The search for suspected Clapham Common chemical attacker Abdul Ezedi has now entered its third day.

Police have given little update on Saturday about the status of the man who remains at large despite searches in Newcastle and parts of London.

A 31-year-old woman, known to Ezedi, is said to be "very poorly" in hospital. Her two daughters are in a less severe condition.

Ezedi's 'Christianity' is investigated

14:01 , Will Mata

A priest confirmed Ezedi had converted to Christianity and was "wholly committed" to his new religion, The Daily Telegraph has reported.

The Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle said in a statement it had "found nothing" to suggest he had become a Catholic but checks were continuing.

It said: "Our thoughts and prayers are first and foremost with the victims of this appalling attack in south London.

"We can confirm that Abdul Shakoor Ezedi visited our diocesan Justice and Peace Refugee Project, a charitable venture which assists a wide range of people who come to us in need.

"We are in the process of checking if this individual was received into the Catholic faith in any of our parishes, and have so far found nothing to support that. We are also investigating whether he was helped in other ways.

"The diocese will assist the police investigations in any way we can."

The project says on its website that it gives food, toiletries and clothes to vulnerable people.

It does not get involved with any asylum claims clients may be pursuing, it is understood.

The PA news agency understands that Ezedi visited it recently and that nothing in the last "few years" of records suggest he had converted to Catholicism.

The Church of England said it is currently not aware of any links to its churches, with a spokesperson adding that it is "the role of the Home Office, and not the church, to vet asylum seekers and judge the merits of their individual cases".

'He had wanted to buy a car from me'

15:28 , Will Mata

Bilal Khan, owner of Billy's Garage in Byker, near where Ezedi had lived, said the wanted man had been "persistent" when trying to buy a car off him last summer.

Mr Khan said: "He approached me last year asking if I had a car for sale. We had one which he was interested in and I told him the price. He was a very persistent type of guy, he doesn't let things go easily."

Mr Khan indicated that Ezedi lived in a nearby halfway house.

Empty containers with corrosive warning labels found

17:15 , Jordan King

Police found them at an address in Newcastle, one of three that have been searched in the city - on top of two in east London.

The Met released footage showing officers entering the address.

Forensic tests are currently ongoing to see if the containers held the substance used in the attack.

Public urged to remain vigilant

17:19 , Jordan King

The Metropolitan Police has repeated calls for the public to help find suspect Abdul Ezedi but has again stressed that he should not be approached.

If you see him, you should call 999 instead.

Commander Jon Savell: “I am today urging the public to remain vigilant and to contact police immediately if they may have seen Ezedi or have information about him.

“I would also like to reiterate that if you see Ezedi, you should call 999 immediately. He should NOT be approached."

Police working with National Crime Agency

17:21 , Jordan King

The National Crime Agency is helping in the search for Ezedi.

Other forces involved include the British Transport Police, the Metropolitan Police and Northumbria Police.

Police have receieved dozens of calls with information about Ezedi

17:23 , Jordan King

The Met thanked the public for getting in touch with information.

Commander Jon Savell said: “I want to thank everyone who has contacted police to share what they know.

“We have received dozens of calls with information, including possible sightings, and every single piece of information has been recorded and forms part of our ongoing investigation.

“I can assure the public that my colleagues and I are fully committed to using every available tool and tactic for as long as it takes to find Abdul Ezedi."

Relative of Ezedi vows to bring him in

19:08 , Jordan King

An unnamed relative told Sky News they are planning to travel from London to Newcastle to try and find Ezedi.

They said: "His injury is very bad and he needs medical attention. I will bring him in by myself if I have to."