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Footage has emerged of the moment police discovered what they believe to be the body of Clapham chemical attack suspect Abdul Ezedi in the River Thames.

The video shows two officers pulling a body out of the water at Tower Pier, near Tower Bridge and the Tower of London.

It also shows officers working alongside lifeboat crews on the River Thames during the operation.

Police at the scene where the body of the Clapham chemical attack suspect, Abdul Ezedi, was found in the River Thames.
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Police board a lifeboat beside the pier

One witness to the incident, Billy Kither, said he and his friend were on an Uber Boat on the Thames near Tower Bridge on Monday around 4pm when he saw a flurry of police activity.

“Police came on to the boat, I think for random checks,” he told Sky News.

“They were just walking about looking at people, making sure everyone was okay.

“Then the radio went for the boat, saying ‘We can’t stop there is someone in the water’.

“The police radios started going, police boats, the search and rescue pulled up next to us and the police hopped on [another boat]. [There was] panic on their faces.”

Lifeboat crews at the scene after the discovery of the body of the Clapham chemical attack suspect, Abdul Ezedi, in the River Thames.
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Lifeboat crews at the scene

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Timeline of chemical attack suspect’s movements

Marine police teams had been searching the River Thames in London for Ezedi, who was accused of throwing a strong alkali on his ex-partner and injuring her daughters, aged three and eight.

He is believed to have “gone in the water” a few hours after the south London attack on 31 January.

Police said the crew of a passing boat reported they had seen a body in the water at Tower Pier EC3 around 4pm on Monday.

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How Clapham chemical attack unfolded

The body was recovered by the Met’s Marine Policing Unit and has been seen by detectives investigating the chemical attack.

“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,” Commander Jon Savell said.

“We have been in contact with his family to pass on the news.

“As you may expect after a considerable period of time in the strong current of the Thames, formal identification is not possible visually, nor from fingerprints.

“We will work with the coroner on other ways to complete formal identification, such as DNA testing and dental records. That may take some time.”

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‘We strongly believe this is Abdul Ezedi’

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The Metropolitan Police said on 9 February that it was likely Ezedi had entered the River Thames in the area of Chelsea Bridge in London. CCTV showed him leaning over railings just hours after the attack.

Officers said he had probably died.

CCTV image of Abdul Ezedi crossing over Chelsea Bridge and entering Battersea Park. Pic: PA/Met Police
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CCTV image of Ezedi crossing over Chelsea Bridge and entering Battersea Park on 31 January. Pic: PA/Met Police

Police had previously warned his body might never be found, due to the fast winter currents in the river.

A nationwide manhunt had been launched for Ezedi, after his suspected involvement in the Clapham assault.

A corrosive alkaline substance was thrown and also injured police officers who responded to the incident, as well as neighbours on Lessar Avenue, near Clapham Common, who rushed to help the family.

Abdul Shokoor Ezedi. Pic: Met Police
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Abdul Ezedi. Pic: Met Police

Police said on Tuesday that the condition of the woman had improved and that she remained in a stable condition in hospital, and was no longer sedated.

A friend of the woman told Sky News the victim is still in critical care, has lost her sight in one eye and that “physically and mentally there is a very, very long road ahead for her and the girls”.

They added that the mother is “desperate to be reunited” with her daughters and is “determined to get out of hospital as quickly as possible”.

The friend described her as the “strongest, most independent person we know”.

More than £44,000 has been raised so far for the woman and her two children in a fundraising drive organised by her friends.

Commander Savell said officers had still not been able to speak to her, but hoped to as soon as she was well enough.

“Our enquiries continue into the attack,” he added.

Ezedi was previously in a relationship with the woman, police believe, but it broke down.

It was considered a possible motive by the force.

The 35-year-old lived in Newcastle after a successful asylum application to stay in the UK – despite being convicted of a sexual offence.

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Donald Trump may be denied privilege of addressing parliament on UK state visit

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Donald Trump may be denied privilege of addressing parliament on UK state visit

Donald Trump may be denied the honour of addressing parliament on his state visit to the UK later this year, with no formal request yet submitted for him to be given that privilege.

It comes after President Macron’s successful state visit this week, in which he was invited to speak in front of both Houses of Parliament.

Sky News has been told the Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, hasn’t so far received a request to invite the US president to speak in parliament when he is expected to visit in September.

It was confirmed to MPs who have raised concerns about the US president being allowed to address both houses.

Kate Osborne, Labour MP for Jarrow and Gateshead East, wrote to the speaker in April asking him to stop Mr Trump from addressing parliament, and tabled an early-day motion outlining her concerns.

“I was happy to see Macron here but feel very differently about Trump,” she said.

“Trump has made some very uncomfortable and worrying comments around the UK government, democracy, the Middle East, particularly around equalities and, of course, Ukraine.

“So, I think there are many reasons why, when we’re looking at a state visit, we should be looking at why they’re being afforded that privilege. Because, of course, it is a privilege for somebody to come and address both of the houses.”

But the timing of the visit may mean that any diplomatic sensitivities, or perceptions of a snub, could be avoided.

Macron addressing Parliament
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France’s President Emmanuel Macron addressed parliament during his state visit this month

Lord Ricketts, a former UK ambassador to France, pointed out that parliament isn’t sitting for much of September, and that could help resolve the issue.

In 2017, he wrote a public letter questioning the decision to give Donald Trump his first state visit, saying it put Queen Elizabeth II in a “very difficult position”.

Parliament rises from 16 September until 13 October due to party conferences.

The dates for the state visit haven’t yet been confirmed by Buckingham Palace or the government.

However, they have not denied that it will take place in September, after Mr Trump appeared to confirm they were planning to hold the state visit that month. The palace confirmed this week that the formal planning for his arrival had begun.

Donald Trump. Pic: Reuters
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Mr Trump has said he believes the trip to the UK will take place in September. Pic: Reuters

When asked about parliamentary recess potentially solving the issue, Ms Osborne said: “It may be a way of dealing with it in a very diplomatic way… I don’t know how much control we have over Trump’s diary.

“But if we can manoeuvre it in a way that means that the House isn’t sitting, then that seems like a good solution, maybe not perfect, because I’d actually like him to know that he’s not welcome.”

A message from the speaker’s office, seen by Sky News, says: “Formal addresses to both Houses of Parliament are not automatically included in the itinerary of such a state visit.

“Whether a foreign head of state addresses parliament, during a state visit or otherwise, is part of the planning decisions.”

The King and Mr Trump raising a toast in 2019. Pic: Reuters
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Mr Trump made his first state visit to the UK in June 2019 during his first presidency. File pic: Reuters

It’s understood that if the government agrees to a joint address to parliament, the Lord Chamberlain’s office writes to the two speakers, on behalf of the King, to ask them to host this.

It will be Mr Trump’s second state visit.

During his first, in 2019, he didn’t address parliament, despite the fact that his predecessor, Barack Obama, was asked to do so.

It was unclear if this was due to the fact John Bercow, the speaker at the time, made it clear he wasn’t welcome to do so.

However, it didn’t appear to dampen Mr Trump’s excitement about his time with the Royal Family.

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Speaking earlier this year, he described his state visit as “a fest” adding “it’s an honour… I’m a friend of Charles, I have great respect for King Charles and the family, William; we have really just a great respect for the family. And I think they’re setting a date for September.”

It is expected that, like Mr Macron, the pageantry for his trip this time will revolve around Windsor, with refurbishment taking place at Buckingham Palace.

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Fuel to engines of Air India plane that crashed cut off moments after take-off, report finds

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Fuel to engines of Air India plane that crashed cut off moments after take-off, report finds

Fuel to the engines of the Air India plane that crashed last month appears to have cut off shortly after take-off, a preliminary report has found.

According to the report switches in the cockpit that controlled fuel moved to a “CUTOFF” position.

It said: “Engine 1 and Engine 2 fuel cutoff switches transitioned from RUN to CUTOFF position one after another with a time gap of one second.

“The Engine N1 and N2 began to decrease from their take-off values as the fuel supply to the engines was cut off.”

The crash site. Pic: AAIB
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The crash site. Pic: AAIB

There was then confusion in the cockpit. In the voice recording, one of the pilots is heard asking the other why he “cut off”. The other pilot responds that he did not do so.

There were no conclusions as to how the switches were moved.

One of the engines was able to be restarted, but could not reverse the plane’s deceleration, the report found.

“At this stage of investigation, there are no recommended actions to Boeing 787-8 and/or GE GEnx-1B engine operators and manufacturers,” India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) said in the report.

A diagram in the report showing how the plane crashed into a building. Pic: AAIB
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A diagram in the report shows how the plane crashed into a building. Pic: AAIB

No significant bird activity was observed in the vicinity of the plane’s flight path, the report said. The aircraft started to lose altitude before crossing the airport perimeter wall, it added.

The plane plummeted into a busy area, killing 241 passengers and 19 others on the ground while incinerating everything around it.

The AAIB’s report is based on the initial findings of the probe, marking 30 days since the crash.

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Liverpool retires number 20 shirt at all levels in honour of Diogo Jota

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Liverpool retires number 20 shirt at all levels in honour of Diogo Jota

Liverpool have retired the number 20 shirt in honour of Diogo Jota – the first time it has made such a gesture.

The club said it was a “unique tribute to a uniquely wonderful person” and the decision was made in consultation with his wife and family.

The number 20 will be retired at all levels, including the men’s and women’s first teams and academy squads.

A statement said: “It was the number he wore with pride and distinction, leading us to countless victories in the process – and Diogo Jota will forever be Liverpool Football Club’s number 20.”

The club called it a “recognition of not only the immeasurable contribution our lad from Portugal made to the Reds’ on-pitch successes over the last five years, but also the profound personal impact he had on his teammates, colleagues and supporters and the everlasting connections he built with them”.

Jota's wife joined Liverpool players to view tributes at Anfield on Friday. Pic: Liverpool FC
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Jota’s wife joined Liverpool players to view tributes at Anfield on Friday. Pic: Liverpool FC

Pic: Liverpool FC
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Pic: Liverpool FC

Newly-married Jota died alongside his brother when his Lamborghini crashed in northern Spain on 3 July.

Police said this week that all the evidence so far suggests Jota was the one driving the vehicle.

Liverpool teammates joined members of Jota’s family, including his wife Rute, at a huge memorial site outside Anfield on Friday.

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A fan looks at messages written onto a memorial wall created near Anfield Stadium. Pic: Reuters
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A fan looks at messages on a memorial wall near Anfield. Pic: Reuters


Liverpool's captain Virgil van Dijk and Liverpool's player Andrew Robertson arrive on the day of the funeral ceremony of Liverpool's Portug
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Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson were among players at the funeral. Pic: Reuters

The star’s funeral took place last weekend, with Liverpool colleagues and members of the Portuguese national team in attendance.

Reds captain Virgil van Dijk carried a shirt bearing the number 20 made from flowers.

Liverpool players returned to the club’s training ground for the start of pre-season on Tuesday.

Their first game since Jota’s death will be on Sunday when they play a friendly away against Preston North End.

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