Stabbed officer receives bravery award for tackling mosque knifeman

A police officer who was stabbed while tackling a knifeman at a mosque and his colleague have become the first ever joint winners of a national bravery award.

Pc Adam Koch managed to wrestle Mohamoud Elmi to the ground despite suffering serious wounds, while Pc Jean Stevens arrested the attacker.

The pair had been dispatched to reports of a disturbance at the Madrassa Qasim Ul Uloom centre in Birmingham on June 15 2013 after two worshippers were attacked.

Pc Koch attempted to subdue Elmi with a Taser but this had no effect, and he suffered a serious stab wound to his abdomen and another wound to a shoulder.

The officer's stab vest was penetrated in two places and the incident could have "ended in tragedy" were it not for the presence at the mosque of a doctor who gave first aid, the court was told.

Pc Koch, who had been marked out for his bravery before for rescuing a toddler from a gas-filled flat, praised worshippers for helping pin down the assailant.

Speaking from his hospital bed at the time, he said: "I owe those people a massive debt of thanks and if it wasn't for their help, bravely running towards a man they'd already seen brandishing a large knife, I may not be here today."

Pcs Koch and Stevens, of West Midlands Police, were recognised with a national award at the Police Bravery Awards ceremony in central London last night.

Ian Edwards, chairman of the West Midlands Police Federation, said: "The swift, brave and selfless actions of Pc Jean Stevens and Pc Adam Koch may well have saved a life.

"Their bravery in confronting a knifeman, forsaking their own safety was above and beyond the call of duty. It is decisions such as this, that officers make 24/7, day in and day out."

Elmi, of Washwood Heath, was found not guilty by reason of his insanity after a trial in February last year. He was detained indefinitely under the Mental Health Act.

Pc Winston Mugarura, of the Metropolitan Police, was also given a national bravery award at the event.

He was off duty in December 2013 when he intervened when a lone man came under attack by a group of up to ten assailants.

He tried to shield the victim before finally getting him to safety and then pursuing the suspects.

John Tully, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, said the award was deserved

"Pc Winston Mugarura was off duty, yet he put himself into a dangerous situation to protect others," he added.