Forest Gate attack: Man arrested after police officer slashed with machete

Metropolitan Police says officers were called to reports of armed man ‘suffering mental health crisis’

The attack happened at an address on Skelton Road in east London, police say (Google Maps)

A man has been arrested after a police officer was slashed with a machete in an attack in Forest Gate in east London.

The incident happened while officers were attending to reports of an armed man “suffering a mental health crisis” at a property.

About seven hours after the attack, the Metropolitan Police arrested a 31-year-old man on suspicion of attempted murder of the police officer.

The man had sustained a knife injury to his neck, which is believed to have been self-inflicted – the Met said, adding that first aid was administered and the man has been taken to hospital by London Ambulance Service.

The officer has been taken to hospital with an injury to his arm, the force said. His condition is not believed to be life-threatening.

A Met statement said: “At approximately 11:50am on Sunday 10 April, police were called to reports of a man armed with a machete suffering a mental health crisis at an address in Skelton Road, E7.

“Officers attended – one officer received a slash injury to his arm and has been taken to hospital for treatment. His condition is not life threatening.”

“The incident remains ongoing at this time,” the statement – shared with The Independent at 4pm, about four hours after the attack – said.

As is routine in circumstances where a person has sustained an injury during a police operation, the Met's Directorate of Professional Standards has been informed.