A dramatic stand-off in north London ended with the Met Police shooting a man after he tried to kill himself and others.
Officers were called to Stow Crescent in Walthamstow at around 10 am on Friday following reports from family members that the man was fortified and making threats inside his home.
Police verified the tense situation lasted for roughly four hours, with fortified officers and mediators trying to resolve the incident peacefully.
During that time, the man constantly advised that he’d seriously harm anyone entering the property and posed a threat to himself.
At roughly 2 pm, after a loud bang was heard from inside the property, officers moved in and discharged their arms. Scotland Yard verified that an arm-like object was set up at the scene.
The man received immediate medical attention from both Met Police and London Ambulance Service labor force. He was later taken to a sanitarium with life-changing injuries, although they aren’t considered life-threatening.
Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist addressed the incident, saying: “Our thoughts at this time are with the injured man and his family.
I know this news will be concerning for the community in Walthamstow and the wider public in London.
However, I want to reassure you, incidents where officers discharge their firearms are incredibly rare.”
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has launched an independent inquiry into the shooting.
A spokesman for the IOPC confirmed: “We can confirm that we have started an independent investigation into the actions of the Met Police during an incident at an address in Walthamstow, east London, where we understand a man was shot by police this afternoon and taken to hospital.”
This incident underscores the oddity of fortified interventions by the Met Police and the ongoing need for careful concession in high-threat situations.
Residents in Walthamstow are advised that the area remains safe, and the police continue to reassure the public as examinations do.
