A body has been found in the River Thames by police searching for Clapham chemical attack suspect Abdul Ezedi.

Police have been searching for the 35-year-old since January 31 after a mum, 31, and her daughters, aged eight and three, were attacked with a corrosive substance in Lessar Avenue, Clapham.

The crew of a passing boat reported they had seen a body in the water at Tower Pier at around 4pm yesterday (February 19).

The body was recovered by the Metropolitan Police’s Marine Policing Unit and has been viewed by detectives working on the investigation.

Met Police Commander Jon Savell said he “strongly believes” the body recovered from the water is Ezedi's.

Commander Savell added the condition of the mum has improved but she remains in hospital in a stable condition and is no longer sedated.

He thanked the “hundreds of members of the public” who called with information during the hunt for Ezedi.

He explained: “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.

“As you might 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.

”Our enquiries continue into the attack. I am pleased to say the condition of the 31-year-old woman has improved.

“She remains in hospital but she is in a stable condition and no longer sedated. We have still not been able to speak to her but hope to as soon as she is well enough.

”Again, I thank all those hundreds of members of the public who called us with information during the hunt for Ezedi.

“The public support for our investigation was overwhelming and every piece of information provided was followed up.”

Commander Savell previously said it was possible that Ezedi had gone into the River Thames as he was pictured on CCTV walking near the river towards Victoria Embankment hours after the attack.

Officers from the Marine Policing Unit carried out a number of low tide searches in the area surrounding Chelsea Bridge over the weekend of February 10.

The investigation into the attack is ongoing as detectives are carrying out a range of enquiries.

There have been no further arrests.

Another body was also recovered from the River Thames in Victoria Parade, Greenwich at 7.20am on February 8.

Although enquiries are ongoing to identify the male, a spokesperson for Metropolitan Police confirmed the body was not Ezedi’s.

Investigators said that the mum agreed to meet Ezedi on the day of the attack, and that she and her children were in a car with Ezedi when he struck.

Commander Savell said the breakdown of the relationship could be a motive for the attack.

It was confirmed that Ezedi is not the father of the woman’s children who were also injured during the attack.

A reward of up to £20,000 was previously on offer for information leading to the arrest of Abdul Ezedi.