Man armed with machete arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after police officer suffers ‘slash injury’

A man armed with a machete has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a police officer suffered a “slash injury” in east London.

Officers rushed to a house in Forest Gate yesterday morning (Sunday, April 10) at 11.50am following reports of “a man armed with a machete suffering a mental health crisis”.

Photos of the scene were shared on social media, showing a heavy police presence, including officers in riot gear.

While people claiming to be the man’s relatives described him as “really nice and a religious guy... he’s never been in trouble with the police”, the Telegraph reported.

A Met Police officer sustained a “slash injury” to his arm during the incident, the force said.

He was taken to hospital with injuries not thought to be life-threatening and has been discharged.

The man, aged 31, also suffered a knife injury to his neck, which police say was “believed to have been self-inflicted”.

He was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder at 7.15pm, police said.

The man received first aid at the scene and has been taken to hospital by paramedics.

Firefighters helped several people who were inside the building on Skelton Road, Newham, E7, to safety via a ladder, while the police attempted to engage with the man.

None of these people were hurt.

A Met Police spokesperson said: “We await an assessment of [the man’s] condition.

“As is routine in circumstances where a person has sustained an injury during a police operation, the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards has been informed.”

The incident occurred on Dame Cressida Dick’s final day in her role as Metropolitan Police commissioner.

During her tenure since 2017, the number of crimes in the capital rose by 17%, before dipping down to 743,62 in 2020/21 due to the Covid-19 lockdowns.

While assualts on police officers rose by 2% nationally between 2018/19 and 2019/20, with the Met suffering the highest number - more than 2,500 - assualts on officers.