A British Transport Police (BTP) officer is being hailed as a hero after taking on all three London terrorists while armed with nothing more than a baton.
After the London Bridge attack began Saturday evening with a white van mowing down pedestrians and the terrorists subsequently stabbing civilians, this officer was one of the first on the scene and vaulted himself at the attackers, suffering knife wounds to the face, head and leg in the process, The Independent reports.
BTP Chief Constable Paul Crowther had nothing but the finest words for the officer who put his life on the line.
“Having visited the officer in hospital shortly after he was admitted for treatment, I was able to hear his account of what happened last night,” Crowther said.
“It became clear that he showed enormous courage in the face of danger, as did many others who were at the scene and rushed to help,” Crowther said. “Although he is seriously unwell, he was able to recount how he faced the attackers armed only with his baton, outside London Bridge station. For an officer who only joined us less than two years ago, the bravery he showed was outstanding and makes me extremely proud.”
“All of us at BTP wish him a swift recovery, and I know he will be touched by the hundreds of messages of support from across the UK and the world,” Crowther continued.
The BTP officer, while seriously injured, is now in stable condition.
More than 90 percent of police officers in London do not carry a gun.
The BBC also reported that an off-duty policeman, who is also a rugby player, tackled one of the three attackers and is now in critical condition after suffering stab wounds.
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick applauded the “extraordinarily brave actions by officers on and off duty first on the scene.”
Within eight minutes of the first emergency call, police arrived on the scene and fired shots, killing the three terrorists who shouted “This is for Allah” during the attack. The terrorists were wearing fake suicide vests, prompting police to use an unprecedented number of rounds to quickly subdue them.
Hours later, police classified the events as terrorist attacks.
London police have so far arrested 12 people in connection with the Saturday evening attacks at London Bridge and Borough Market.
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