Four people arrested over “horrific attack” on police
Four people, including a 13-year-old boy, have been arrested following a scuffle with two police officers in east London.
Video circulating on social media shows a male officer struggling with a man in Hackney with a female officer being pushed when she tried to intervene.
Both officers suffered minor injuries in the incident on Wednesday but did not require hospital treatment, the Met Police said.
Four people – three men aged 20, 32 and 34 and a 13-year-old boy – have since been arrested on suspicion of assault on police.
Prior to the incident, a member of the public flagged down officers on patrol and claimed to have been assaulted.
“As an officer attempted to speak with those involved, one of the men resisted and a struggle ensued. A number of other people became involved whilst the officer was on the ground,” the Met said.
Video footage shows some of the men surrounding the officers swearing and filming on their phones, with one taking a selfie as the officer and the suspect grappled.
Detective Chief Superintendent Marcus Barnett said in a video shared on Twitter: “Two of my officers were horrifically attacked having tried to undertake a very lawful and necessary arrest on the street.
“Fortunately both of the officers are well – cuts and bruises and are obviously shocked, as are all their colleagues and I.
“And I just want to say that we’ve done an amazing job – four arrests we’ve made and an investigation ongoing.”
Ken Marsh, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, said: “Yet again this starkly shows the dangers [officers] face and the bravery they show each and every day keeping Londoners safe.
“We are not society’s punch bags. We have families we want to go home to at the end of every shift, but the dangers are stark and seemingly escalating.”
Home secretary Priti Patel and London mayor Sadiq Khan condemned the attack on the officers.
“These brave officers were doing their duty and assisting the public. We owe them a debt of gratitude,” Khan said.