Man Tasered on London train after police chase

The man, believed to be in his mid-50s, got on the train at Queen's Road Peckham - Gustavo Valiente / i-Images
The man, believed to be in his mid-50s, got on the train at Queen's Road Peckham - Gustavo Valiente / i-Images

Police have Tasered and detained a man who ran onto a busy train armed with a knife following a dramatic pursuit in south London.

Officers were called to an address in Queens Road, Peckham, just after midday following reports that a man armed with a knife was having a mental health crisis.

By the time they arrived, the man had left in a car. After a search, police located the vehicle and a pursuit was authorised.

The driver got out of the car in Queens Road and ran along railway lines to Queens Road Peckham station, where he boarded a train – which was in service and contained passengers – still armed with the knife.

Pursuing officers found him on the train and deployed a Taser to detain him.

The London Ambulance Service attended the scene and the man, believed to be in his mid-50s, was detained under the Mental Health Act.

There are no reports of any injuries to members of the public or officers, and it is not being treated as a terrorist-related incident.

Matt Connett, a barista at Black bird bakery, near the station said: “A car came into the arch by the cafe quickly followed by a load of police cars.

“Armed officers ran after him and later they searched the car. The police took a knife and put it into some sort of clear package. The knife was a big kitchen knife probably around 30cms.”

Emma Goddard, 26, who works at an animal charity said: “Police were blocking the entrance to the station, vans opposite were pulled in and police were on foot . There was around six vans and cars and around fifteen on their feet in total.

“It seemed like something worse than what was actually happening but the police reacted really well.”

Detective Superintendent Nicky Arrowsmith, of the Central South Command Unit, said: “This incident highlights the challenges that police officers confront on a daily basis.

“I am very proud of the courage and determination of all the officers involved, and pleased that their work helped ensure no member of the public suffered any harm.”