LONDON, Sept 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A “much-loved” police officer has been shot dead at a custody centre in London.
The suspect, a 23-year-old man, is then thought to have shot himself. He is now in a critical condition in hospital.
The officer, who has not yet been named, was shot in the chest at the custody centre in Croydon shortly after 2am.
He was treated at the scene by colleagues and paramedics before being taken to hospital, where he later died.
The suspect was known to counter-terror police, but the shooting is not currently being treated as terror-related.
The shooting happened while the suspect was being checked as part of coronavirus protocols, after being removed from a police van.
The Metropolitan Police said no police firearms were discharged during the incident on Friday.
Commissioner Cressida Dick said: “This is a truly shocking incident in which one of our colleagues has lost his life in the most tragic circumstances. My heart goes out to his family, direct colleagues and friends.
“We are currently supporting his family and also have a dedicated team providing support to the officers and those in the custody centre who witnessed the shooting.”
She described the officer as a “much loved colleague” who was a long-serving sergeant and had been working in the Croydon custody centre.
Members of the public left flowers and tributes at the station through the day, and at 4pm, police and officials gathered for a minute’s silence.
“We are in the early stages of the investigation and are still working to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and we will provide further updates when we have them,” said Cressida.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke to Cressida to offer his condolences, a Downing Street spokesperson said.
The incident has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct for an investigation, which will be separate to the murder inquiry.
It is the first killing of a police officer on duty since the death of PC Andrew Harper in Berkshire in August 2019.
Three teenagers were acquitted of murder and jailed for manslaughter after dragging him to death behind a car while trying to steal a quad bike.
The officer is thought to be the first to be fatally shot in the line of duty since Fiona Bone and Nicola Hughes were murdered by Dale Cregan in 2012.
The number of assaults recorded against officers have been rising in England and Wales, and the government is planning to increase jail sentences for attackers.
The shooting came days after 11 Metropolitan Police officers were injured by acid during a drugs raid. — NNN-AGENCIES
