A POLICE officer stabbed in the eye during the London Bridge attack told a colleague who went to his aid to leave him and go after the terrorist who had wounded him.
Describing the heroics of his badly- injured British Transport Police (BTP) colleague, who has not been named, PC Alfred Iswa said: “As soon as I got there, I could see blood was coming out of his face, near the eye.
“I was trying to help him and he pointed his baton towards the attacker and said ‘get him’.
“Even when injured, he was trying to fight.”
The officer was stabbed in the head, face and leg and remains “seriously unwell” following last Saturday night’s attack.
He was one of the first on the scene as the emergency services responded to calls from the public about a van being driven at pedestrians on the bridge. In a statement released through the force, the officer said: “Like every police officer who responded, I was simply doing my job. I didn’t expect the level of love and well wishes I have received.
“I feel like I did what any other person would have done. I want to say sorry to the families that lost their loved ones.
“I’m so sorry I couldn’t do more and I want you to know I did everything I could.”
Thanking the workmates who helped him with his injuries, he said: “I am so proud of my colleagues from BTP and everyone from the other emergency services who were on shift that night and did everything they could in the face of danger.
“I especially want to thank the officers who saved my life and kept me alive. I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for them.
“Saturday night changed my life, like I’m sure it has for many others.
“My thoughts are with the people who died in the attack, but also with those who were injured and are recovering in hospital, including the three other officers who were injured, and all the members of the public who rushed to help.”
The officer spoke out as video emerged of the fatal showdown between armed police and the three terrorists involved in the attack, Youssef Zaghba, 22, Khuram Butt, 27, and 30-year-old Rachid Redouane.
The footage captured by CCTV cameras shows the men attacking a pedestrian in Borough Market before running at officers, then being shot dead seconds later.
The material was first revealed on social media and shows police examining the bodies of the fallen attackers.
Meanwhile, separate footage of the terrorists meeting five days before the event has been published by a newspaper and handed to police.
It is said to have been recorded outside a gym in Barking and shows Redouane throw his phone to the ground before walking away with the two others, then returning to collect the device.
Almost 30 victims remained in hospital, including 10 in a critical condition.
The eight people killed include French national Alexandre Pigeard, who was described by his family as a “marvellous son, a perfect older brother and a radiant young man”.
The body of fellow countryman Xavier Thomas, 45, was recovered from the Thames on Wednesday, though formal identification has not yet taken place.
A total of 17 people have been arrested in connection with the attack, with five still in custody.
Two men were arrested in Ilford on Wednesday night, with a 27-year-old man held on suspicion of the prep- aration of terrorist acts and a 33-year-old detained on suspicion of possession with intent to supply controlled drugs.
A third male aged 29 was arrested on suspicion of the preparation of terrorist attacks elsewhere in the town, which is close to Barking, where Butt and Zaghba had links.
Forensics officers were seen carrying boxes into a house a street away from the Ummah Fitness Centre, where some of the CCTV footage was captured.
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