Man shot by Met Police after making threats to kill

A man suffers life-changing injuries after he was shot by Metropolitan Police officers who broke into a property in north-east London.

The force said officers were called to an address in Stow Crescent, Walthamstow, at around 10am following reports of a man with a gun. threatens to kill.

Trained negotiators were called to the scene, and at around 14:00, police entered the property and fired their weapons upon hearing the sound of an explosion coming from inside. The Met said they found what they believed to be a gun inside the property.

Police said the incident had been referred to the Professional Standards Department, which would refer it to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

The Met said they were called to the property and the man was alone inside. Police said he threatened to harm himself, and a few hours later he threatened to seriously harm anyone who came to the address and to shoot himself.

The Met said what happened before and after officers entered the property will form part of the investigation.

The man was first treated at the scene by police doctors and the London Ambulance Service and is now in hospital. Met said.

People were asked to stay away from the area where the police cordon remained.

Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said: “Our thoughts are with the injured man and his family at this time.

“I know this news will be worrying for the community in Walthamstow and the wider public in London, but I can reassure you that incidents where officers discharge their firearms are incredibly rare.

“It is true that a full investigation into this incident is taking place and is being led by the Independent Office for Police Conduct. This process needs to run its course and it would be inappropriate for us to comment further while this is ongoing.”

An IOPC spokesman said: “We can confirm that we have launched an independent investigation into the actions of the Met Police during the incident at an address in Walthamstow, east London, where we understand a man was shot by police this afternoon and taken to hospital.”

They said they sent investigators to the scene and began the post-incident procedure to collect evidence.