Man shot by police fighting for life

Armed officers were sent to the scene in Elsinore Road, Forest Hill, after the man threatened local police with “a large bladed weapon”.

Scotland Yard said last night he is in a “critical but stable” condition in hospital.

At around 5.40am yesterday police were called to reports of a man attempting to break into a car in Elsinore Road, the Metropolitan Police said.

A spokesman said: “Local officers attended and attempted to approach the man who then threatened them with a large bladed weapon.

“The officers retreated and called for further units to assist, including firearms officers.

“The man then approached officers on Stanstead Road threatening them with the weapon.”

The firearms officers deployed both Tasers and firearms and the man suffered gunshot wounds.

“London Ambulance Service attended and took the man to a south London hospital. He is critical but stable,” the Scotland Yard spokesman added. “We can confirm a number of knives have been recovered from the scene.”

Roads were closed in the area because of the incident.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has launched an investigation.

A spokesman said the man, in his early 20s and originally from Ghana but now of Forest Hill, was being treated at Kings College Hospital in the capital.

“The IPCC... has decided this incident should be investigated independently,” the spokesman said.

IPCC Commissioner Mike Franklin added: “His family have been informed and have been taken to the hospital by the police so that they can be close to him.

“The IPCC investigation will be carried out by our own investigators and will look at the circumstances leading up to this shooting.”