9 hours ago
Watch: Off-duty police officer attacked in machete robbery
Two brothers who slashed an off-duty police officer with a machete as he tried to prevent a robbery have been jailed for seven years.
Hannan Mahmood, 20, and his younger brother, Humar, 19, attacked Metropolitan Police officer Pc Attwood in Luton town centre last November. The officer's first name was withheld.
Harrowing CCTV footage captured the moment that the officer – who was shopping with his wife – was repeatedly attacked by the machete-wielding thugs.
Pc Attwood spotted the Mahmood brothers as they were in the process of stealing an electric bike from outside a shopping centre.
Despite being off duty at the time, he stepped into their path and challenged them as they attempted to ride away.
He suffered slash injuries to his arms and chest as he tried to prevent the brothers escaping – he also attempted to throw some plastic barriers in their path.
The pair were subsequently identified and arrested, eventually pleading guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent, dangerous driving, robbery and possession of offensive weapons.
Appearing at Luton Crown Court on Monday, they were each sentenced to a total of seven years' imprisonment, plus an extended five years on licence.
Speaking about the incident, 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.
'The victim of the robbery didn't go into town to get robbed, I didn't go into town expecting to be stabbed, we were just doing our normal day to day activities. 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.'
'The very best of policing'
His actions have won praise from Sir Mark Rowley, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, who 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 also praised the officer's actions.
She said: 'Pc Attwood's bravery in the face of grave danger undoubtedly allowed us to gather enough evidence to identify and bring to justice the Mahmood brothers, who I firmly believe would have gone on to commit further violent crimes.
'Their chosen lifestyle meant they sought to gain from fear, intimidation and the brandishing of weapons, showing no regard for others.
'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.'
'Without a thought to his own safety'
Bedfordshire Police's deputy chief constable Dan Vajzovic said police officers had a 'duty to protect others' which 'does often place us at the risk of harm'.
He added: 'PC Attwood exemplifies the very best of the professionalism and courage shown by so many in our service. He didn't think twice about stepping in to protect others.
'As an off-duty officer he had no protective equipment and without a thought to his own safety he set about doing all in his power to ensure those responsible were apprehended and prevented from harming others.
'I reiterate my thanks to PC Attwood on behalf of my force and the residents of Bedfordshire. We are extremely lucky to have him as a colleague in the police service.'
