Policeman is fighting for his life after he was repeatedly stabbed with a machete in a ‘sudden and brutal’ attack before fighting off the knifeman with his Taser
- Officer was stabbed after attempting to stop a van in the Leyton area of London
- Driver in his 50s failed to stop but then got out of the van and stabbed officer
- Policeman used his taser despite having been stabbed by the alleged attacker
A police officer is being treated in hospital after he was attacked with a machete when he stopped a vehicle in east London.
The officer was stabbed after attempting to stop a van at the junction of Coopers Lane and Leyton High Road in Leyton.
The driver of the vehicle, aged in his 50s, initially failed to stop but then got out of the van and injured the officer with the machete, police said.
The policeman then managed to use his taser despite having been stabbed, with the alleged attacker then arrested by another officer.
People in the area posted photos on Twitter of Midland Road (pictured above) where police had cordoned off the area
Officers were pictured on the scene with police vans and cars after the attack in Leyton. east London
Police remained on the scene this morning and the van was still there. It is thought to be removed later today
The injured officer, aged in his 30s, was taken to hospital by ambulance and the Metropolitan Police said his condition is believed to be critical but stable, and his next of kin have been informed.
The driver, who did not require hospital treatment, has been arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and taken to an east London police station.
A crime scene remains in place in the area and police have said there is nothing to suggest the incident is terrorism related.
The incident comes as new data suggests that the number of women and girls carrying knives in England and Wales is on the rise.
The map above shows the area in Leyton, east London where the officer was attacked after doing a routine vehicle stop
Residents in the area took to Twitter to share images of the scene, as blue lights lit up the street
A crime scene remains in place in the area and police have said there is nothing to suggest the incident is terrorism related
From 2014-2018 police in England recorded 5,800 cases where women and girls had been caught with a knife. The youngest being caught was 7-years-old and the report found that the role of females in knife crime is often overlooked.
North East Command Unit’s inspector Julia James described the assault in Leyton as a ‘sudden and brutal attack’.
She added: ‘What began as a routine vehicle stop has transformed very quickly and unexpectedly into an unprovoked attack with a weapon.
‘Our thoughts are with the injured officer and his family and we wish him a full recovery.
The Met Police tweeted that an officer was being treated in hospital after being attacked
‘I would like to commend his bravery and resilience especially as he managed to draw a taser, despite being repeatedly stabbed, to prevent the suspect harming anyone else and to protect himself from further injury,’ she said.
‘This incident highlights the very real risk that police officers can be confronted with on a daily basis and the courage and professionalism officers demonstrate when doing their job.
Police have asked anyone who witnessed the incident to call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 and quote reference CAD3/8August.