A man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a police officer was stabbed and seriously injured in north London.
The officer was responding to reports of a man with a knife in a residential street in Enfield.
The officer was stabbed as he attempted to deal with the incident on Mandeville Road, late yesterday afternoon.
Colleagues rushed to help the injured officer and had to use a tourniquet to stem heavy bleeding from a serious wound to the officer’s shoulder area.
The officer was stabbed as he attempted to deal with the incident on Mandeville Road, late yesterday afternoon
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Fellow officers managed to disarm and detain the suspect and seize the knife.
Police said the suspect, a man in his 30s, was also injured during the arrest.
He was treated in hospital, but has now been discharged and is being held in police custody.
The man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and taken to a local police station.
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The injured officer was stabilised by paramedics at the scene and rushed to a major trauma centre.
He is reported to be in a stable condition in hospital today.
An investigation is underway into the circumstances that led up to the stabbing.
As a routine move, Scotland Yard’s Directorate of Professional Standards has been informed.
Met Police Assistant Commissioner Matt Jukes said: “This officer has shown immense bravery apprehending a suspect, armed with a knife. Visiting him in hospital after he was injured, I was struck by his courage and humility.
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“He didn’t want to talk about his own actions but to praise the professionalism of the police medic and other colleagues who provided him with vital first aid and arrested the suspect.
“He was in good spirits and spoke with pride about the work his team do, protecting Londoners. And yesterday, he did just that - stepped forward to put himself between the public and clearly a very dangerous individual.”
The Assistant Commissioner concluded: “In doing so, he showed the best of the Met and reminded us of the daily challenges officers face while doing their duty to protect the public.
“The officer and the Met would also like to thank colleagues in the NHS for their care.”
The senior officer said that the public should be reassured that the incident was dealt with swiftly and that a thorough investigation was now underway.