Unarmed Cop Shot At By Gun NutTuesday, 24th January 2006
LIFE STYLE EXTRA (UK) - An unarmed policeman had a miracle escape when a gun nut fired a hail of bullets during a terrifying late night chase, it emerged today.
The gunman fled on foot after cops pulled over his Volkswagen Passat in south London in the early hours of Saturday morning.
The unarmed officer, who has not been named, cornered him in an alleyway off Croxted Road in Dulwich, but the ruthless thug pulled a gun and opened fire.
The brave cop dived for cover, escaping unharmed.
Police marksmen surrounded the scene but found no trace of the gunman who is believed to have fired at least three rounds.
Chief Superintendent Ian Thomas, head of Southwark Police, vowed to hunt the gun nut down.
He said: "This was very serious. For someone to fire at officers with absolutely no provocation is extremely worrying.
"We are doing everything we can to clampdown on gun crime and everything in our power to hunt down this individual and prosecute him."
The terrifying incident - coming just two months after the fatal shooting of PC Sharon Beshinevsky, 38, in Bradford, Yorkshire - will intensify call for officers to be routinely armed.
The majority of patrolling Met Officers are currently unarmed. They wear ballistic vests that lessen the impact of any blast, but will not stop a bullet at close range.
However Chief Supt Thomas distanced himself from calls for all police to be routinely armed.
He said: "Unarmed British officers have access to armed support. I think at the moment the balance is right."
Croxted Road was closed for four hours in the wake of the shooting just after midnight.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "Armed officers carried out a search of the area. A firearm was recovered. The passenger of the Passat was arrested in relation to this incident and our inquiries continue."
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