Police have found a fifth body in the River thames in London in just three weeks after a man was discovered washed up on the riverbank in Putney yesterday – with his death being treated as ‘unexplained’.
This comes after police found a body on Tuesday believed to be of Clapham chemical attacker Abdul Ezedi, 35, who was wanted for dousing his former lover and her two young children with alkaline in Clapham, south London, on January 31.
The Met Police were called at 8.19am yesterday to reports of the body on the Shingles Riverbank in Putney, south west London.
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) attempted CPR on the man but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police have said that at this stage, the death is being treated as unexplained, pending further investigation.
A police boat is seen on the Thames on February 10 as officers search for the body of Ezedi. Police found two other bodies in the river this day as they searched for the Clapham attacker
Police have found a fifth body in the River thames in London in just three weeks after a man was discovered washed up on the riverbank in Putney yesterday (general view of Putney riverbank)
Police found a body on Tuesday believed to be of Clapham chemical attacker Abdul Ezedi, 35, who was wanted for attacking his former lover and her two young children in Clapham, south London, on January 31
This comes after the Met’s Marine Policing Unit recovered the bodies of 45 people in the River Thames last year, which is the most in the last few years. Around 324 have been pulled out over the last 12 years.
Regarding the incident in Putney yesterday, police said: ‘On Thursday, 22nd February at 08:19 hours, police were called to body on the Shingles Riverbank at Putney.
‘RNLI attempted CPR. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.
‘Anyone who has information is asked to call police on 101 or Tweet @MetCC quoting 1341/22FEB.’
Convicted sex offender Ezedi carried out his horrific onslaught on January 31 before fleeing, having appeared to have also burnt his own face in the assault. He was last seen alive on CCTV later that evening leaning over London’s Chelsea Bridge.
On Monday, February 19, a passing boat reported seeing a body in the water near Tower Pier – four miles from Ezedi’s last known position.
The next day police confirmed they had recovered the remains, believed to be the Afghan-born asylum seeker’s. The body was recovered by the Met’s Marine Policing Unit and has been viewed by detectives working on the investigation.
After the body was found Commander Jon Savell said on Monday: ‘Based on the distinctive clothing he was wearing at the time of the attack and property found on his body, we strongly believe we have recovered the body of Ezedi. We have been in contact with his family to pass on the news.’
Two bodies were also found on February 10 in the search for Ezedi, but neither turned out to be him.
Officers found one man from the river near the HMS Belfast, a ship-come-museum which permanently moored in the Thames between London Bridge and Tower Bridge in central London.
After his body was found, The Met said: ‘Police were called at about 10:13hrs on Saturday, 10 February following reports that the body of a man was recovered from the river near to the HMS Belfast.
‘Officers are working to confirm the man’s identity and inform his next of kin.
‘The death is being treated as unexpected pending further enquiries.’
The other body found around half an hour later that day was that of a man recovered from the water in Limehouse, east London at 10.30am.
Police said at the time: ‘Police were called at 10:39hrs on Saturday, 10 February. The body of a man was recovered from the water in Limehouse, E14.
‘Officers are working to confirm the male’s identity and inform next of kin.
‘The death is being treated as unexpected pending further enquiries.’
Ezedi’s body was seen near Tower Pier (pictured) on the River Thames on Monday afternoon
A police boat searches the water near Chelsea bridge on February 10 in the hunt for Ezedi
The Metropolitan Police earlier this month found the body of a woman at St David’s Square on the shore of the Thames on the Isle of Dogs on Sunday, February 4 at 11.36am.
Police said at the time: ‘On Sunday 4 February at 11:36hrs police were called to a report of a body in the water on the Thames Bank, St David’s Square, Isle of Dogs.
‘Officers attended the scene alongside other emergency services who assessed the body and life was pronounced dead on scene.
‘The woman’s next of kin has been informed.
‘The death is being treated as unexpected and non-suspicious.’
