Man, 31, in custody on suspicion of attempted murder of detective during undercover operation in east London

This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

A man remains in custody on suspicion of the attempted murder of a detective during an undercover police operation.

The 31-year-old was also being held at a north London police station in connection with the possession of a firearm.

The officer, part of the Metropolitan police’s Trident gun crime unit, was in a stable condition in hospital after being shot in the shoulder during the attempted raid in a residential part of Hackney, east London, on Thursday.

Senior colleagues have paid tribute to the detective’s bravery.

Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, Britain’s top police officer, said the detective had shown great bravery.



“His colleagues have described him as exceptional and professional. He has been that and more,” Hogan-Howe said. “I am of thinking of him and his family and I wish him a quick recovery. Our officers confront danger every day. I am proud of all of them and the courage that they show.”

Cdr Duncan Ball said he was unable to state for operational reasons whether any shots were fired by police during the incident, at about 12.45pm.

But he praised the “tireless” actions of police, which he said demonstrated officers’ selfless dedication to duty.

“This incident reveals the very real risks our police officers face on a day-to-day basis while protecting the safety of Londoners,” he said.

Local people said the officer was chasing suspects fleeing the raid when one of them turned and shot him.

Residents said Clarissa Road in Haggerston was lined with undercover police in cars when at least two shots rang out.

A business owner, David Salvester,

said: “We were in the house and we heard a bunch of yelling. We went outside and there was a bunch of officers in green with their dogs. They had helmets and machine guns, I think. That’s the point we heard the gunfire. They were all scrambling about. It was two shots, I think.

“The whole road was filled with undercover police. They all burst out of their cars [when the shots went off]. There was obviously some kind of raid.”

Kaner Korbay, who owns a nearby drycleaners, said: “There was a raid on a house in Scriven Street. They tried to get away and the police were chasing them. One of them shot the policeman, right in the middle of the street. Within 30 seconds the police were everywhere, blocking the road.”

The Met said officers from its specialist firearms command and Trident area crime command had been taking part in an “authorised firearms operation” when the shooting happened.