Police officer shot in armed raid praised for 'great bravery'

A police officer shot during a raid in east London has been praised for his bravery.

The detective, who is part of the Met Police Trident gun crime unit, was shot in the shoulder at around 12.45pm on Thursday and remained in hospital overnight with family at his bedside.

The head of the Met Police said his thoughts are with the officer, who remains in a stable condition, and his family.

Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said: "This officer has shown great bravery. His colleagues have described him as 'exceptional' and 'professional'. He has been that and more.

"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."

A 31-year-old man was arrested and a "non-police firearm" was recovered.

Commander Duncan Ball said he was unable to state for operational reasons whether any shots were fired by police during the incident in a residential neighbourhood of Hackney.

But he praised the "tireless" actions of police which he said demonstrated officers' selfless dedication to duty.

He said: "This incident reveals the very real risks our police officers face on a day-to-day basis while protecting the safety of Londoners."

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

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

Business owner David Salvester, 28, heard one plain-clothes officer shouted: "Nick's been shot."

Mr 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). Then there was a woman shouting, 'Nick's been shot, Nick's been shot'.

"She started getting all her first aid stuff out of the car. She was calling out a lot.

"There was obviously some kind of raid."

He added: "We grew up in LA so we are more used to gunshots over there, not here."

Kaner Korbay, who owns a nearby dry cleaners, 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.

"I saw the police officer getting treated with his shirt off. I think he was shot on his shoulder, they were covering his shoulder with bandages."

He added: "There were undercover officers and police officers with guns running around everywhere."

The Met Police said officers from its Specialist Firearms Command (SCO19) and Trident Area Crime Command had been taking part in an "authorised firearms operation" when the shooting happened.

Police are investigating the circumstances.

Steve White, chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said: "So soon after the tragic death of an officer on Merseyside, this incident once again reminds us of the dangers faced by officers policing in 2015."