Man arrested for attempted murder after Met cop 'slashed with a machete' in east London

10 April 2022, 14:59 | Updated: 10 April 2022, 21:06

A man has been arrested after a Metropolitan Police officer was slashed on his arm with a 'machete', police have said.

Officers rushed to the scene in Forest Gate, East London, when the officer was injured and taken to hospital. He is not in a life-threatening condition.

At 7pm on Sunday evening officers arrested the 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.

First aid was administered and the man has been taken to hospital by London Ambulance Service. We await an assessment of his condition.

"At approximately 11:50hrs 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," the Met said.

"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."

A number of people who were inside the address were helped to safety by colleagues from London Fire Brigade using a ladder. None of these people were hurt.

Social media showed a heavy police presence, with the road having been cordoned off.

Armed police were seen deploying as bystanders look on to the street, telling each other they believed an officer had been injured.

Initial eyewitness reports suggested an axe had been used in the incident but police later said they were told about a machete.