Car attack on police officers is treated as attempted murder

The 31-year-old was detained after he handed himself in at an east London police station following the release of dramatic CCTV images of the incident.

Footage shows the officers being hit by a green Citroen which was driven at them at speed in Waltham Forest, north-east London, as they dealt with reports of a group looting a clothing store at about 1am on August 8.

Detectives investigating the attempted murder of the officers said the footage had been released to encourage people to come forward and identify those responsible.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said the Citroen was driven at the constables in Royston Avenue as they tried to deal with reports of looting at the Aristocrats clothing store in Chingford Mount Road.

The footage shows the car appearing at high speed as a group of officers chased looters, knocking two to the ground.

The impact with one officer was so powerful his body armour was knocked off. One suffered knee and leg injuries and the other sustained shoulder injuries. They were both taken to hospital and are recovering at home while they wait for further specialist treatment.

Detective Inspector Cliff Haines said: “We are treating this as attempted murder. These individuals clearly had no regard for the safety of the officers or anyone else in their path.

“Judging from the footage and the speed at which this car is being driven, I can only assume that the intention was to cause serious harm and injury.”

He added: “It is only sheer luck the officers did not sustain more serious injuries.”

Police believe, from CCTV images, there were several occupants inside the car at the time of the collision.