Chilling moment machete thugs slash brave off-duty cop when he tried to stop them stealing e-bike in busy town centre
THE CHILLING moment machete thugs slash at a brave off-duty police officer after he tried to stop them stealing an e-bike in a busy town centre.
Two brothers who attacked a courageous off-duty cop with a machete while he tried to stop an e-bike robbery have been jailed for seven years.
8
8
8
Hannan Mahmood, 20, and Humar Mahmood, 19, of Luton, Beds, attacked PC Attwood in the city outside a shopping centre.
PC Attwood was with his wife when he saw the pair stealing an electric bike and stepped in to block their escape.
Dramatic CCTV footage shows the off-duty officer using a nearby plastic barrier to block the brothers from escaping — all while being slashed with a machete on November 2.
PC Attwood, who works in the Metropolitan Police Service, has spoken out about the incident for the first time and said: "I didn't go into town expecting to be stabbed.
"The victim of the robbery didn't go into town to get robbed. We were just doing our normal day-to-day activties."
The horrific attack left PC Attwood with injuries to his arm and chest, which were fortunately not life-threatening.
The Mahmood brothers pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm with intent, dangerous driving, robbery, and possession of offensive weapons in connection with the incident.
They were sentenced today (June 23) at Luton Crown Court to a total of seven years in prison, with an additional five years on licence.
PC Attwood said: "I think if you put a uniform on - irrespective of what uniform - you have a hidden ability to help people.
"There is a saying that the police are never off duty and in my case at this time, that was true.
"Thankfully we managed to stop someone from doing something bad to someone else.
"I would like to thank the officers of Bedfordshire Police as while they have said really nice comments about me, I have never had a chance to thank them back.
"I thank them wholeheartedly."
Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, said: "Every day police officers up and down the country step forward to confront the most dangerous criminals in circumstances when most people would turn away.
"PC Attwood was off duty, on his own and without his personal protective equipment.
"But his instincts told him something wasn't right so he bravely went to investigate and confront criminals armed with machetes.
"It is thanks to his courage and to the subsequent work of Bedfordshire Police that two violent offenders are now behind bars.
"The public are safer as a result.
"PC Attwood's actions demonstrated the very best of policing - bravery, dedication, a commitment to service and a passionate drive to protect people.
"All of us at the Met are incredibly proud to call him a colleague."
Detective Inspector Caeva Taylor from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit said: "PC Attwood was off-duty at the time of the offence and courageously stepped in to prevent any further harm to the public, risking his own life to do so.
"The Mahmoods now face a lengthy prison sentence and I am pleased that they are no longer free to carry out wanton violence on Bedfordshire's streets."
In sentencing, Judge Hunter KC thanked PC Attwood for his service and made an application for a High Sheriff's Award.
8
8
8
8
8
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
11 minutes ago
- The Sun
Woman in her 40s found dead in UK seaside city with two men, 39 and 44, arrested on suspicion of murder
COPS have arrested two men on suspicion of murder after a woman in her 40s was found dead in a seaside city. Emergency services scrambled to the scene at an address in Hollam Road, Swansea, in the early hours of Saturday. But a woman in her 40s was sadly pronounced dead, said Hampshire Police. Two men, a 42-year-old from Southsea and a 39-year-old from Gosport, have been arrested on suspicion of murder. The man from Gosport has additionally been arrested on suspicion of obstructing and resisting a constable in execution of duty. The pair have been released on conditional bail until September 21 while the investigation continues, according to cops. Police confirmed that the woman's death was being treated as suspicious and her next of kin had been informed. A Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary spokesperson said: 'We were called at 2.33am on June 21 to a report of a concern for the welfare of a woman at an address on Hollam Road in Southsea. 'Sadly, a woman in her 40s was pronounced dead at the scene. Her next of kin have been notified and are currently being supported by specialist officers. 'Our investigation is ongoing to establish the exact circumstances of what happened, and the death is currently being treated as suspicious. 'As part of our enquiries, two men have been arrested. A 42-year-old man from Southsea has been arrested on suspicion of murder. 'A 39-year-old man from Gosport has been arrested on suspicion of murder and obstructing / resisting a constable in execution of duty.' 1
BBC News
43 minutes ago
- BBC News
Invasive catfish removed from lake at Dinton Pastures Country Park
A species of fish that could potentially grow up to 9ft (2.7m) long and "devastate local wildlife" was found to have been illegally introduced to a Berkshire fishing Borough Council said a Wels catfish was caught by anglers at Dinton Pastures Country reported their catch to the council and two fish were humanely removed to protect native is illegal to stock the Wels catfish and others like it without a special licence from the Environment Agency and Cefas (Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science). The council said the "top predators" could "devastate local wildlife, including swans, geese and native fish species"."Thank you to the anglers who did the right thing - the vast majority of whom are responsible and conservation-minded - and to everyone who helps us protect Dinton's precious wildlife," a council statement said."We'll be keeping a close eye on things, but if you ever see anything that doesn't look right, please let one of the team know."The Canal and River Trust said that in continental Europe, with warmer water and plenty of food, Wels catfish have been known to grow to weights of 305.7kg (674lb). You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
44 minutes ago
- BBC News
Tyne Theatre break-in will hurt charity, says CEO
A "reckless and senseless" break-in at a theatre will leave it suffering financially, its chief executive has at Newcastle's Tyne Theatre and Opera House has been estimated at thousands of pounds, he and volunteers discovered smashed glass and stolen stock when they arrived at the 1867 Café Bar at the Grade I listed building on Westgate Road on Higgins said the Tyne Theatre and Opera House Preservation Trust faced the difficult decision of either making an insurance claim, resulting in increased premiums, or spending its "hard-earned and donated money" on the damage. Mr Higgins said the damage could not be fixed quickly and easily due to the building being listed."The bottom line is that the charity will suffer as a result of this," he said."It's not like just chucking a bit of glass in your house, it has got to be the right stuff which makes it expensive."Any insurance claim we make has a direct effect on our premiums, so the small charity is faced with difficult decisions of making a claim or the charity has to spend its hard-earned and donated money by an act of depravity." Significant damage was caused to the cafe, which opened last December and is named after the date the theatre originally of pounds worth of stock was also stolen from its Higgins said a rock had been used to break through the main glass said a "significant amount of blood" had been left inside and so remaining drink stock had to be thrown out due to contamination. The theatre's box office also had to close but its other bars and foyer box office are still open."We are a charity and we are only here to preserve and develop this Grade I listed heritage theatre for the good of Newcastle and the surrounding communities," Mr Higgins said. The building, which has welcomed the likes of Tom Allen, Julian Clary and Sara Millican to its stage, was funded by Victorian industrialist Joseph Cowen who envisaged a "theatre for the people". During much of the 20th Century it operated as a cinema called the Stoll Picture Theatre, which closed in reopened as a theatre in 1983 but was plagued by financial 2008 it was purchased by Newcastle City Council, which transferred the freehold ownership to the Tyne Theatre and Opera House Preservation Higgins said staff were "thankful for all the messages of support" the theatre had received. "We are also so touched that the theatre really sits in the heart of Geordies and the wider community." Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
