Brixton: Met criticises 'unacceptable' crowds who hurled objects as police helped injured man

4 June 2021, 18:39 | Updated: 4 June 2021, 18:55

By Will Taylor

Scenes of officers being "set upon" in Brixton as they responded to a seriously injured man were "totally unacceptable", the Met has said.

Crowds hurled objects at police after being called to help a man with suspected gunshot and stab wounds late on June 2.

The Metropolitan Police said officers were sent in to the scene in south London with riot gear and the crowd threw items at them.

Detective Superintendent Neerav Patel, of the Met's Central South BCU, told LBC on Friday: "The scenes were totally unacceptable.

"We had officers responding to a male who had been seriously injured and those officers were set upon by the crowds that were present.

"So for me that's totally unacceptable and I know I speak for the community when I say that level of violence and disorder will not be tolerated.

"We have an open investigation to identify those responsible."

A 17-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder in relation to the incident police responded to.

Officers change into protective clothing during the incident. Picture: PA/Ben Fahey

Officers, including some wielding firearms, were sent to Moorland Road with the air ambulance just after 9.30pm.

The man, in his 20s, who suffered wounds was taken to hospital and his injuries were assessed as not life-threatening but potentially life-changing.

During the response, two officers were assaulted but neither needed treatment.

Speaking about whether the police were braced for more incidents as lockdown eases, Det Supt Patel said: "We as a nation have been through a huge ordeal with the pandemic and I fully accept that people will want to return to the streets and enjoy the freedoms that we've long waited for."

He said warm weather in the summer would bring out more people who will want to gather, which he said was right. Euro 2020 will also see people want to meet up.

But Det Supt Patel added: "We remain committed to making sure they can do that safely, they can do that in line with the coronavirus legislation… but absolutely we remain committed to maintaining safety in public places.

"We welcome people to come back to the streets and enjoy their freedoms but we are also poised and ready to bear down on violence and we maintain our commitment to reducing violent crime."

Anyone with information is asked to call police via 101 quoting reference Cad 7951/02Jun.