Police officer fired crossbow in High Wycombe

A police officer was shot in the leg with a crossbow and a man was stabbed in what was described as a “serious assault and weapons incident”.

Police attended School Close in Downley, near High Wycombe, on Friday after a man in his 60s suffered a stab wound.

The alleged attacker was shot by armed police and has potentially life-changing injuries.

The officer was released from the hospital. The knife victim had serious but not life-threatening injuries, police said.

The suspect, a 54-year-old man from High Wycombe, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and remains in hospital under police protection.

Assistant Chief Constable Tim Metcalfe, of Thames Valley Police, said: “Police officers attended and one was shot in the leg with a crossbow. He was taken to hospital but has since been discharged.”

“Our thoughts are with the injured officer and we are doing everything we can to support him and his colleagues, as well as everyone else within the force affected by the incident.”

“The attack victim was also taken to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Our thoughts are with him too.”

He added: “A 54-year-old man from High Wycombe has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

“He was also taken to hospital under police supervision with potentially life-changing injuries as a result of being shot by an armed police officer during the incident.”

“We are not currently looking for anyone in connection with the incident.”

Neil, who lives in the area and did not want to give his last name, told the BBC he saw an armed police officer crouching in a nearby bush.

“I was playing in the park with my son and my partner and I knew something was about to happen. I grabbed my son and told my partner to go home and within a few minutes it started, there was commotion everywhere, then there were shots.”

“It happened so quickly. It was peaceful to the point of chaos.”

“It escalated so quickly.”

Housemate Andy Gupta told PA Media: “We saw three or four armed police officers through our window. That’s when we realized something serious was going on.”

“For the first time in my life I felt like I was working in a film.

“There were 15 to 20 police cars, armed police, three or four ambulances and two intensive care units.

“It was worrying – I have family here. I know there are kids playing there and my buddy’s kids are there, so I was worried about them too.”

Mr Gupta’s 13-year-old daughter said: “I saw a man coming out of a house and it looked like he had been stabbed in the stomach.”

“And then the police came and said: ‘Don’t stand outside, don’t come out, it’s dangerous’.”

“They kept them all inside. And then the armed police came and I heard two shots.”

“We were shocked – we didn’t think this would happen in such a quiet area.”

Thames Valley Police have made a mandatory referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct over the incident, which occurred at around 6pm BST.