London crimewave: Anger as crowd cheer on suspect as police try to arrest them
A POLICE superintendent condemned bystanders laughing and filming on smartphones as a suspect escaped from police trying to arrest him in a video released online.
One female police officer is said to have suffered a broken bone and a male officer was said to have needed surgery following the incident in Newham, East London on Thursday afternoon.
The female officer is said to have suffered a broken bone in her right hand.
Her colleague is said to have sustained ligament damage to his hand, which required surgery.
Metropolitan Police Superintendent Roy Smith slammed onlookers who yelled encouragement at the man during the incident.
In a video released online, members of the public can be heard cheering.
Superintendent Smith tweeted: “So disappointing to see members of the public filming this and laughing at the officers.
“It's a sad state of affairs when we forget be police are the public and the public are the police.”
Nanikutomisa Mpelenda, 25, was charged with two counts of assault on police officers and possession of a firearm with criminal intent.
So disappointing to see members of the public filming this and laughing at the officers
He also faces charges of obstructing a drugs search and driving whilst uninsured.
Mr Mpelenda was due to appear at Thames Magistrates’ Court on Saturday.
A 23-year-old man has been released under investigation.