LONDON – Two police officers have been hospitalized after being stabbed in the West End on Friday, the London Police Department said. The attack is not considered terrorism.
The force said officers on patrol near Leicester Square encountered a man with a knife in the early hours of Friday morning and was stabbed while trying to detain him.
The officers – a man and a woman – were taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
The police chief, Mark Rowley, said that the policewoman suffered a serious injury to her hand, which could change her life, while her colleague was injured in the neck and chest, but she should be fully recovered.
A man believed to be in his 20s has been arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and assaulting an emergency worker. Police say a Taser was used during the arrest of the suspect and he was briefly taken to the hospital for protection.
The incident comes at a time when the city of London is filled with mourners for Queen Elizabeth II, but the attack was not carried out near the places where the memorial services are being held, and the police said the injured officers are not part of the kingdom’s work.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan called the attack “appalling.”
“These brave officers did their job and helped the public at this important time for our country,” he said. “My thoughts and prayers are with them, their families and police colleagues after this terrible attack.”
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