PC stabbed in head with machete in ‘unprovoked and frenzied’ attack

A police officer who was stabbed in the head in a “frenzied” machete attack in east London is seriously injured but will recover, police said.  

In the aftermath of the incident, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said officers will be given “the legal powers and support that they need” to tackle knife crime and other violent crime.

The patrol officer, who is in his 30s, was stabbed several times at around midnight after attempting to stop a van on Leyton High Road.

The vehicle’s driver, a man in his 50s, failed to stop and then got out of the van and attacked the officer with the machete, police said.

Detective Chief Superintendent Richard Tucker said: “Having engaged the driver, who was quite aggressive… he then tries to make off, gets back in the van, and a violent struggle ensues where he produces a weapon and stabs our officer in the head and around the body.”

While being stabbed, the policeman, who has around a decade of police experience, managed to Taser his attacker.

The attacker was then arrested by another officer, who was not armed with a Taser.

Mr Johnson said the attack showed the “vital importance of investing in policing”, which is “why we’re putting another 20,000 officers on the street.”

He said that officers needed to be equipped with the confidence and power to “do that emotionally charged thing and do stop and search”.

“We did a huge amount of [stop and search] 10 years ago and we really got the crime and murder rate down, and that has to be part of the solution now, as well as having tough sentencing for those carrying knives”, he added.

DCS Tucker, who described the attack as “frenzied and unprovoked”, said the officer is “seriously injured, but he will make a recovery”.

The officer, who is “fine” but “shaken up”, has been commended for his bravery and is being treated for a stab wound to the side of his head, which required stitches, and an injured hand from fending off the attacker.

He was scheduled to undergo surgery on his hand at 10am, DCS Tucker said.

As Mr Tucker was briefing the media at Forest Gate Police station, the van which officers had stopped was taken away on a flatbed truck for further forensic examination.

The attacker, who did not require hospital treatment, was arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and taken to an east London police station.

Metropolitan Police Federation Chairman Ken Marsh said: “This is horrific news. Police officers across London are out there every day at risk protecting the public – and sadly yet again a Metropolitan Police officer has suffered a severe injury on duty.

He added: “Enough is enough. Police officers should be going home at the end of their shifts. Not to hospital.”

Home Secretary Priti Patel tweeted: “Absolutely horrified by the shocking stabbing of one of our brave police officers in Leyton overnight.

“His courage in the face of danger shows how police put their lives on the line to protect us every day. I wish the officer a full recovery & my thoughts are with him.”

Police are not looking for anyone else in connection with the attack and there are no other reported injuries.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said he is “utterly appalled by this sickening attack”.

He tweeted: “The men and women who serve in our police force in London are the best in the world, and their courage and dedication is inspiring. I’m in contact with senior Met officers, and an arrest has been made.”

Mr Khan added: “This attack on a police officer, who showed tremendous bravery by continuing to defend others even whilst being attacked himself, is a reminder that our police risk their personal safety every time they go to work. They deserve our full support and gratitude.”

Witness Muhammad Faisal said he and his family were woken up just after midnight by the noise outside their flat and described it as a “shocking” scene.

“We saw more than 10 to 15 police cars and an ambulance,” he said.

“We saw someone lying on the road. Next to him was his police uniform.

“They were providing him assistance to his head. We didn’t see the wound, but we saw a lot of blood.”

“I saw one police officer was holding a knife. It was a machete,” he added, describing the blade as “around a foot long”.

(c) Sky News 2019: PC stabbed in head with machete in ‘unprovoked and frenzied’ attack