Police marksmen have threatened to hand in their weapons in protest at the arrest of the officer who shot dead alleged gangster Jermaine Baker.

The officer was interviewed under caution ‘in respect of his use of lethal force’ following the death of Mr Baker during an alleged attempt to spring two convicts from a prison van in North London nine days ago.

But the officer’s colleagues in the elite Metropolitan Police firearms unit are understood to be ‘incensed’ and ready to step down from duty if he is charged over the shooting.

An officer was interviewed under caution ‘in respect of his use of lethal force’ following the death of Jermaine Baker (pictured) during an alleged attempt to spring two convicts from a prison van in North London

Their anger has been sparked by the way the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) used a community meeting last Thursday to publicly announce his arrest. In particular, they feel comments made at the meeting by IPCC Commissioner Cindy Butts appeared to ‘give the impression’ that the unnamed officer was guilty.

Sources have told this newspaper that the threat from the officer’s colleagues to ‘hand in their tickets’ – a reference to their authorisation to carry firearms – extends beyond his close circle of friends in the Met’s SCO19 firearms unit.

However, it is not clear how many of the 550 members would be willing to join a mutiny.

There have been conflicting reports of what happened during the shooting near Wood Green Crown Court on the morning of December 11. So far the IPCC has said only that Mr Baker, 28, from Tottenham, was in a black Audi when he was shot and that a non-police issue firearm was also in the car.

The officer’s colleagues in the elite Metropolitan Police firearms unit are understood to be ‘incensed’ and ready to step down from duty if he is charged over the shooting

Some officers with a close knowledge of the incident have privately spoken of carrying out their threat if a decision is made to prosecute the officer. While recognising the need for a ‘robust’ investigation, many fear the IPCC’s actions have placed them in an impossible position. ‘There is this feeling that this could happen to any of them,’ said a source. ‘They are worried that they might use the same tactic tomorrow and it could leave them facing a murder investigation.

‘Some assurances have been given and the threat has subsided in some quarters, but tensions are still running high and the anger has certainly not abated.’ The source added that the IPCC’s handling of the incident had diminished morale within the unit ‘at a time when officers are working flat out’ to counter the terror threat facing London.

The officer was arrested by IPCC investigators last Thursday afternoon, just hours before the heated community meeting in Tottenham.