A CHURCH shockingly backed the Clapham chemical attacker's asylum bid - despite his history of sex offending.
Adbul Ezedi claimed to have converted to Christianity to persuade Home Office officials to let him stay in the UK.
Newly released documents show Ezedi illegally entered Britain in 2016 and joined Grange Road Baptist Church in Jarrow, Tyne and Wear, the same year.
Photos released on Tuesday showed Ezedi appearing to hand out religious flyers to passers-by in Newcastle.
Others seemed to illustrate him being baptised inside a church.
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Ezedi injured 12 people after throwing a corrosive substance to a mum and her two children in Clapham, South West London on January 31.
Cops launched a nationwide manhunt for the 35-year-old - before finding his body in the River Thames 20 days later.
Documents show Grange Road Baptist Church fought for Ezedi to stay in the country in 2018 despite the asylum seeker being convicted of sex offences eight months previously.
Ezedi managed to avoid jail after pleading guilty to charges of sexual assault and exposure - after he grabbed the bottom of a woman without her consent.
He was placed on the sex offenders' register for 10 years, and ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work when he was handed a suspended sentence in January 2018.
But a letter written the same year by Reverend Roy Merrin, a retired ministry team leader at Grange Road Baptist Church, "supported" Ezedi's stay in the UK.
The letter, dated 28 August 2018, read: "I have known Abdul since February 2016, during which time he has attended regular worship services at Grange Road.
"Abdul has attended an Alpha Course organised by the church and, as a result of him coming to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, has been baptised by total immersion.
"Abdul has established a good relationship with the other Church members, and is always willing to help as required. Apart from that, Abdul has been ready to share his faith in Christ with non-Christians.
"I hope that this information will be of assistance, and I would support his application to remain in this country."
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However, an undated document titled "safeguarding contract", in Ezedi's name, set out the conditions for his attendance at the Baptist church in light of his convictions.
The Home Office make the final decision on asylum applications and have access to full criminal records data to enable them to do this.
Baptists Together
It included a requirement that he had to "stay in the vicinity" of an appointed male supporter during services and was not allowed to sit alone in church "at any time".
In March 2019, Ezedi lodged an appeal in an attempt to stay in the UK, arguing he feared persecution because of his religion.
At a hearing in November 2020, the sex offender's bid was successful.
Judge WK O'Hanlon, sitting in the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber), said: "Having considered all of the evidence before me in the round, notwithstanding my concerns as to the honesty of the appellant in relation to certain aspects of his account, I find that the appellant had been consistent in his evidence with regard to his conversion to Christianity."
Baptists Together, a movement of more than 1,800 local churches including Grange Road, has now claimed it "did not corporately support or sponsor" Ezedi staying in the UK.
The organisation said: "Baptists Together did not corporately support or sponsor Abdul Ezedi's asylum application.
"A personal letter of support commenting solely on Abdul Ezedi's observed faith journey was written by a retired Baptist Minister.
"The safeguarding contract was a separate issue and was agreed between the church and Abdul Ezedi, with guidance from local and regional safeguarding leads using our national template document of the time.
"This was to show the church had sufficiently risk assessed Abdul Ezedi's attendance at church, ensuring the safety of the congregation and considering if it was appropriate for him to attend.
"The Home Office make the final decision on asylum applications and have access to full criminal records data to enable them to do this."
The Home Office tonight said: "All asylum claims are carefully considered on their individual merits in accordance with the Immigration Rules.
"This means that religious conversions do not guarantee a grant of asylum.
"We have engaged with a wide range of stakeholders to help us to improve our policy guidance, training for asylum decision-makers, and to ensure we approach claims involving religious conversion in the appropriate way."
The Met launched a huge manhunt for Ezedi after he lured a 31-year-old mum into meeting him on January 31.
He then attacked her and her daughters, aged three and eight, in their car, police said.
Officers believed Ezedi had jumped into the water after he was last seen pacing up and down on Chelsea Bridge.
His body was recovered on Monday February 19 from Tower Pier.
A total of 12 people were injured in the attack - including the mum and her daughters.
Cmdr Savell previously said there was a "very strong indication" the pair were in a relationship which had since "broken down".
The fugitive's details were shared with all UK police forces and ports and a £20,000 reward was offered for information leading to his capture.
