Officer has been placed under criminal investigation by the IPCC following death of Jermaine Baker in Wood Green on Friday

A Scotland Yard firearms officer has been suspended from duty after the police watchdog launched a homicide investigation into the fatal shooting of a suspect.

The shooting happened on Friday morning in a residential street yards from Wood Green crown court, north London.

It is claimed that police acted to disrupt an attempt by a gang to free two men who were been taken in prison vans to a court for sentencing over firearms offences. The armed officer fired one single shot, which killed Jermaine Baker, 28.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has launched a criminal homicide investigation into the death.

In a statement the IPCC said: “The Independent Police Complaints Commission has launched a homicide investigation into Mr Baker’s death. The launch of a criminal investigation does not mean that criminal charges will necessarily follow.”

Met police deputy assistant commissioner Peter Terry, from specialist crime and operations, said: “The exact circumstances that led to Mr Baker’s death must be thoroughly and independently examined. That is the role of the IPCC. It is only through establishing the full facts, as quickly as possible, as to what took place that day that the best interests of justice and of all those affected can be served.

“As this is an ongoing investigation we must all await the IPCC’s findings before drawing any conclusions or speculating on what has taken place.

“All of our firearms officers, who are all volunteers, do a job that is difficult and often dangerous. They all fully understand, quite rightly, that they will need to account for their actions if they use lethal force.

“The IPCC will receive our fullest possible support with their investigation. All of our officers involved in Friday’s operation are receiving all the possible support we can provide. This is a very difficult time for everyone affected by the death of Mr Baker.”

The police raid on Friday led to four men being arrested and charged over the alleged plot to free the two prisoners. Two of those arrested have been charged with possessing an imitation weapon.

The police watchdog has said a gun had been found at the scene and it did not belong to the police, a strong indication that investigators believe the man shot dead may have had a weapon.

The IPCC also said in an earlier statement: “A firearms officer has reported that he discharged his firearm and analysis of the officer’s ammunition confirms that a single shot was fired. What appears to be a non-police issue firearm was found at the scene and will be subject to ballistic and forensic tests.”

Detectives tackling organised crime were lying in wait on Friday morning after suspecting a group of men were allegedly planning to spring Izet Eren and Erwin Amoyaw-Gyamfi as they were taken to Wood Green crown court for sentencing. Both men were later jailed for 14 years.

The shooting at around 9am happened on a quiet residential street in Wood Green, north London, as people went to work. After the shooting the IPCC’s commissioner Cindy Butts, who is overseeing the investigation, said: “I give my assurances that a thorough, independent investigation into the circumstances is under way.”

The shooting happened in Haringey, the borough where Mark Duggan was shot in 2011, triggering riots. In that case, also investigated by the IPCC, no officer was suspended over the shooting.

Earlier on Monday, the four men arrested on 11 December appeared in court. Nathan Mason, Gokay Sogucakli, Ozcan Eren and Eren Hasyer all appeared in custody at Highbury Corner magistrates court on Monday. Eren, 31, of Wood Green, and Hasyer, 25, from Enfield, are charged with conspiracy to aid the escape of the two prisoners.

Mason, 30, and Sogucakli, 18, both from Tottenham, face the same charge as well as possessing an imitation firearm and using a motor vehicle taken without the owner’s consent.

All four were remanded in custody over Christmas to appear next at Wood Green crown court on 4 January.