Leyton stabbing: Police officer seriously injured in ‘frenzied’ machete attack

Wounded man still able to use taser to subdue attacker, says Met

A police officer suffered critical injuries when he was attacked with a machete during a routine traffic stop on Thursday.

The officer, in his 30s, was stabbed several times in the early hours of the morning after pulling over a van driver, police said.

After he directed the driver to stop and approached the van he was subjected to a “sudden and brutal attack” with the machete.

In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said: “The male officer was stabbed a number of times but managed to draw his taser and used it to subdue the suspect and protect himself from further harm.

“The suspect was then promptly arrested by the other officer in attendance.”

The attack took place shortly after midnight on Thursday after the traffic stop in Leyton, east London, and left the officer in a critical but stable condition.

It is not thought to be terror-related.

In an update at about 8am on Thursday, the Met said the officer’s condition had improved and was now serious, but stable, and that his wounds were not life-threatening.

Detective Chief Superintendent Richard Tucker, who described the attack as “frenzied and unprovoked”, said the officer was “seriously injured, but he will make a recovery”.

He is being treated for a wound to the side of his head, which requires stitches, and an injured hand from fending off the attacker.

A man in his 50s has been arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm and taken to a police station in east London for questioning.

Inspector Julia James, of the northeast command unit, said in a statement: “This was a sudden and brutal attack on a uniformed officer carrying out their duties. 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. 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.

“My colleagues came to work that evening to protect and serve the community. Events such as this highlight the courageous work that police do every day.

“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.”

Boris Johnson offered his sympathies to the injured officer, adding: ”What this underscores for me is the bravery of our police, people who actually go towards danger to keep us safer.”

Anyone with information should call police on 101, quoting reference CAD3/8August, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111