A police officer died after being shot by a man who was being detained inside a police station in south London, Scotland Yard has said.
The sergeant was shot overnight by the 23-year-old man inside the Croydon custody centre, police said, and the gunman then shot himself at about 2.15am.
Paramedics treated the officer at the scene in Windmill Road before he was taken to hospital by the London ambulance service. He died in hospital.
The 23-year-old suspect was also taken to hospital and remains in a critical condition.
The commissioner of the Metropolitan police, Cressida Dick, led tributes to the officer as an investigation into his death unfolded.
She said: “The Met is a family. Policing is a family in London and across the United Kingdom. Today, we police are all mourning a great loss.
“I have visited and spoken to our officer’s partner together with other colleagues, and we are of course giving her the best support we can.”
The prime minister, Boris Johnson, and the home secretary, Priti Patel, paid their respects to the sergeant.
Johnson tweeted: “My deepest condolences go to the family, friends and colleagues of the police officer who was killed in Croydon last night. We owe a huge debt to those who risk their own lives to keep us safe.”
Speaking at the Home Office, Patel said: “I’m deeply shocked and saddened by the tragic killing of the officer in Croydon overnight.
“All our thoughts are with the officer’s family, friends and colleagues across the Metropolitan police force, but also the policing family across the country.
“This is a sad day for our country as once again we see the tragic killing of a police officer in the line of duty as they’re trying to protect us and keep us safe.”
Lissie Harper, the widow of PC Andrew Harper, who was killed last year, said: “This is devastating news. No person should go to work never to return. No human being should be stripped of their life in a barbaric act of crime.
“Another hero has been taken from us in unwarranted violence. They protect us but who protects them? Another life is gone in a disgraceful act that reminds us of the danger our police officers face with every shift they begin.
“My heart is broken for yet another member of our blue line family, and all of his family, friends and colleagues who must now accept a life without him in it.”
In a statement, Scotland Yard said the officer was shot at about 2.15am at the custody centre in Windmill Lane.
“Officers and paramedics treated him at the scene and he was taken to hospital by London ambulance service,” the statement said.
“Very tragically he subsequently died at hospital. We are in the process of informing all of the officer’s family and are supporting them with specialist officers.”
No police firearms were discharged during the incident, the Met added.
At Croydon police station on Friday morning, flowers had been laid on a concrete barrier outside the main entrance. Forensic investigators and police officers could be seen moving around in a car park and, through plate glass windows, inside the building.
People living in Croydon were saddened but incredulous at the circumstances of the shooting. One man, who asked not to be named, said he had passed the scene about 2.30am and saw a street filled with police vehicles and blue lights.
“There was no panic, because sometimes you might pull up in the morning and see loads of police cars outside, and so I didn’t think anything of it,” he said.
A vicar, Rev Catherine Tucker, said she had come down to see if anyone needed praying for. She said: “Obviously I’m shocked, but I’m not surprised, unfortunately, and the reason is that there’s tension between police and young people,” she went on. “We’re running a project called Public Spirit to try to ease those tensions.”
It remains unclear why the suspect was arrested and the Independent Office for Police Conduct will launch a separate investigation into the circumstances of the officer’s death.
It is understood that at this early stage, lines of inquiry include the suspect’s mental health, why he had a firearm on him and why he opened fire.
The incident is not thought to be terrorism-related although Scotland Yard’s counter-terrorism command was monitoring developments.
The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said he was devastated by the news.
The Labour leader, Keir Starmer, tweeted: “Horrific to hear of a police officer being shot and killed in Croydon. Our police put themselves in harm’s way every day to keep us safe.”
Ken Marsh, the chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, said: “Officers put themselves in danger every day to protect the public. Sadly, on very rare occasions officers make the ultimate sacrifice whilst fulfilling their role. When that happens we will ensure their bravery and sacrifice is never forgotten.”
The National Police Chiefs’ Council chairman, Martin Hewitt, added: “It is another tragic reminder of the risks police officers take on a daily basis to keep the public safe.
“Policing is a family and I join my colleagues across the country in mourning the senseless death of one of our own in the line of duty.”
Steve Reed, the Labour MP for Croydon North, tweeted: “All of us in Croydon are in shock at this heartbreaking tragic news.”