Crime & Justice

2 police officers hospitalized after central London stabbing

London, Sep 16 (EFE).- Two police officers were hospitalized after they were stabbed by a knife-wielding man in central London in the early hours of Friday morning, the city’s Metropolitan Police said.

A man believed to be in his 20s has been arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and assaulting an emergency service worker following the attack that occurred at 6am local time near London’s iconic Leicester Square.

The assault comes amid heightened security in the capital ahead of Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral on Monday, although the two officers – one male and one female – were not part of the deployment related to the monarch’s death.

The attack was not thought to be terror related, police said.

Met Police commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said that the female officer had suffered potentially life-changing injuries after she was stabbed in the arm. The male officer was stabbed three times in the neck and once in the chest, resulting in serious injuries.

Neither suffered life threatening injuries.

Other officers on the scene challenged the man and made the arrest.

In a social media statement, London’s mayor Sadiq Khan said: “This attack on serving police officers in Soho overnight is utterly appalling. These brave officers were doing their duty and assisting the public at this momentous time for our country.” EFE

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