A police officer has been rushed to hospital after being shot in Hackney this lunchtime during an operation to tackle London’s growing gang problem.
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A man has been arrested close to the scene and is being questioned by police.
Commander Duncan Ball from the Metropolitan Police’s Specialist Crime and Operations said the “intelligence-led” operation had been to “recover a firearm and apprehend those in possession of it”.
The chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, Steve White, said: “So soon after the tragic death of an officer on Merseyside, this incident once again reminds us of the dangers faced by officers policing in 2015”.
“There are a lot of police officers still around, they have spoken to me and all the shops around here asking if we witnessed anything”.
The Metropolitan police have confirmed that police officer has been shot and wounded in the London borough of Hackney this afternoon.
“Within 30 seconds the police were everywhere, blocking the road”.
A Post Incident Procedure concluded that no police firearms had been discharged during the incident.
“I was near the old fire station where three medical vehicles parked up, engines running, then shot off after the police cars. I think the boy got away as well”.
Eye witness reports claim Clarissa Road was lined with undercover police in cars when “at least two shots” were heard. He explained that “I was in my living room watching TV when I saw a load of armed officers outside my house”, adding that “a black man appeared in the window opposite”.
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The Trident Area Crime Command group is responsible for tackling gang violence and crime in the capital.
