2 police officers stabbed in central London

By Ahmet Gurhan Kartal

LONDON (AA) - Two male police officers were taken to hospital after being wounded in a stabbing incident in central London Friday morning, Metropolitan Police said in a statement.

“On Friday, 16 September at around 6 am police encountered a male with a knife in the area of Leicester Square,” the statement said.

“Two officers received stab wounds and are currently being treated in hospital. We await further updates on their conditions.”

The police said an individual was “arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and assaulting an emergency worker.”

“This attack on serving police officers in Soho overnight is utterly appalling,” London Mayor Sadiq Khan wrote on Twitter following the attack.

“These brave officers were doing their duty and assisting the public at this momentous time for our country.”

Around 10,000 police officers have been deployed on the streets of the British capital as Queen Elizabeth II lies in state in the Palace of Westminster and thousands of people queue up to pay their final respects.