Police appeal after moped thug threatens officer with 'large knife'

THE Met is appealing for witnesses after a moped thug threatened a motorcycle officer with a large knife which was then used to attack the police bike tyres.

The officer, on a marked police motorcycle, had signalled for two men on a moped to stop after seeing them ‘acting suspiciously' on Benwell Road in Highbury, north London, at about 2.30pm on November 22.

The two made off but eventually stopped on Sunnyside Road, Archway, a distance of 1.6 miles away.

The force said in an appeal: ‘The pillion then dismounted from the bike, threatened the officer with a large knife, which he then used to strike the tyres of the police bike.’

The two then made off again, leaving the officer uninjured.

No arrests have been made.

Both the moped rider and pillion are described as aged between 18 and 22 and wearing dark clothing and a black helmet.

Visordown reported earlier this month how the Metropolitan Police had said moped crime was falling in London following the introduction of four marked BMW F700GSes.

Detective Inspector Greg Coates of Camden and Islington’s Operation Attrition Unit said of the latest incident: “These men are clearly dangerous and need to be arrested. We are keen to speak to anyone who may have witnessed this incident or has any information.

“In particular, we would like to hear from anyone who was in this area at the time and has dashcam footage. If you were in the vicinity of either in Benwell Road, Hornsey Road or Sunnyside Road on Wednesday afternoon, please call police; your information could be vital."

Any witnesses or anyone with any information is asked to call police on 101 or contact via Twitter @MetCC. To give information anonymously contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online atcrimestoppers-uk.org.