Police officer stabbed outside east London railway station
Witnesses describe seeing officer covered in blood, as Ilford station put on lockdown
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A police officer was stabbed outside an east London railway station on Friday night.
British Transport Police (BTP) said the male officer was approached by a suspect outside Ilford station and attacked with a knife.
The officer was taken by ambulance to hospital for treatment for his injuries, which are not thought to life-threatening.
A man has been arrested over the incident, BTP said. It is understood counter-terrorism police are not involved at this stage.
Witnesses described seeing the bloodied officer outside the station as it was put on “complete lockdown”.
Another tweeted: “At Ilford station... just come outside and all I see is someone on the floor, blood and police.”
The incident comes amid concerns of an increase in attacks on police officers amid a rise in violent crime across London.
“Officers are appealing for information after a BTP police officer was stabbed outside Ilford Station earlier this evening,” a BTP spokesperson said.
“Around 9.45pm this evening a male officer was approached whilst on duty outside Ilford Station and was attacked with a knife.
“The London Ambulance Service has taken the officer to hospital, where he is being treated for his injuries, which are not thought to be life threatening.”
Following a recent attack on police officers in southwest London, where one female officer was “karate kicked” into the path of an oncoming bus, Metropolitan Police Federation Ken Marsh called for officers to be given greater support.
He previously warned of a “breakdown in society” after two officers were attacked as they tried to apprehend a suspect in Hackney.
“There is an element of people out there who just have no respect whatsoever and don’t care,” said Mr Marsh.
“They don’t care about their actions, don’t care how they behave and don't care about the consequences and we are left to face that twenty-four hours a day seven days a week.”
Additional reporting by PA