A suspect driver who crashed into parked cars after a police chase through north London aimed a handgun at two officers threatening to shoot them.

A huge manhunt was underway today for the gunman who sped off in his Ford Focus car before crashing into parked cars and fleeing on foot.

Scotland Yard said today officers were on routine patrol in a marked car when they came across a vehicle parked in Portland Rise, Hackney at 8.25pm last night.

As they approached, a man got out of the car and walked off at speed prompting the officers to drive closer. At that point the several occupants of the Focus started throwing objects at the police car.

Several people got out of the car and ran off and as the two police officers jumped out of their vehicle they were confronted by a man with a handgun, pointing it at them and threatening to shoot them.

The unarmed officers backed away, calling for urgent assistance from specialist firearms officers.

The gunman jumped into his car and sped off. A short time later the suspect vehicle collided with some parked cars in Seven Sisters Road, close to the junction with Hornsey Road, and the man ran off on foot.

Police searched the car and found a handgun.

Hackney Borough Commander Simon Laurence said: “Officers across the Met have to deal with these types of situations day in day out across London and I commend my officers for their courageous actions.

Acting on instinct when approaching the suspicious car, they were then confronted by an armed suspect. They put themselves in harm’s way to protect the public and have helped take a dangerous firearm off the streets.

“We are actively pursuing the armed man and the other suspects, and we would like to hear from anyone who has any information about this incident.”

Residents told how armed police swarmed roads around Finsbury Park and Manor House station at around 8.30pm last night as a major operation was launched.

They said officers on patrol began to pursue the vehicle in Portland Rise, a residential street of homes and apartment blocks, when a number of passengers jumped out and who ran away.

Firearms units were called in and the car was chased along Seven Sisters Road before it was “boxed in” and sent crashing across the road into parked cars.

The driver pointed a handgun at one of the officers, it is claimed, as he made his escape. A suspected firearm was left on one of the seats.

One resident told the Standard: “We heard lots of noise outside so we came to the window which is when we saw the police taping off the area directly below our flat.

“Then lots and lots of police cars came zooming past up and down Seven Sisters Road.”

She said the entire road was taped off as police wearing gloves searched beneath cars.

Three of the suspects are described as black males. One was a white male wearing grey tracksuit bottoms.

Detectives from the Met’s Trident and Area Crime Command investigate.

Anyone with information should call police on 101 or contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Alternatively, tweet police via @MetCC.