The incident occurred within the early hours of Friday at Croydon Custody Centre in south London, town’s Metropolitan Police Service mentioned.
Fellow officers and paramedics handled the officer on the scene, in line with a police assertion. Nevertheless, he later died of his accidents on the hospital.
A 23-year-old man was detained on the scene, police mentioned. He’s in hospital in a essential situation from a gunshot wound.The Metropolitan Police Service has launched a homicide investigation.
The deadly taking pictures of a police officer is an uncommon occasion in the UK, the place police don’t routinely carry weapons.
No police firearms had been discharged through the incident, the police assertion mentioned.
“It is a really stunning incident during which considered one of our colleagues has misplaced his life in probably the most tragic circumstances. My coronary heart goes out to his household, direct colleagues and buddies,” Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick mentioned.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson mentioned the nation owed a “large debt” to cops who danger their lives to maintain the neighborhood protected.
“My deepest condolences go to the household, buddies and colleagues of the police officer who was killed in Croydon final night time,” he mentioned on Twitter. “We owe an enormous debt to those that danger their very own lives to maintain us protected.”
UK House Secretary Priti Patel mentioned she was “shocked and saddened” by the information. “My ideas at this time are along with his household, buddies, and policing colleagues in London and throughout the nation,” she mentioned in an announcement.
Patel mentioned she had supplied her condolences to Dick and supplied no matter assist was wanted because the taking pictures was investigated.
“It is a unhappy day for our nation and one other horrible reminder of how our cops put themselves in peril each day to maintain the remainder of us protected,” she mentioned.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan mentioned he was “devastated” by the taking pictures.
“My coronary heart goes out to the household of this courageous officer, who has paid the last word value for serving to to maintain Londoners protected. Tragic incidents like this are horrible reminders of the hazards our cops face each single day,” Khan mentioned on Twitter.
“My ideas are additionally with your entire Metropolitan Police household, who I do know will likely be deeply mourning their colleague at this extraordinarily tough time. I stay in shut contact with the Commissioner to supply her and our Met officers and employees my assist.”