Manchester policeman seriously injured in sword attack

The man being arrested in Manchester's Whalley Range today. Photo / Twitter, @BBCNWT video

A British police officer has been left with serious injuries after being slashed with a sword, Greater Manchester Police say.

A 23-year-old man has been arrested and the officer taken to hospital following the incident in Whalley Range, Manchester.

One eyewitness described seeing a man arrested on Upper Chorlton Road who had been "attacking the police" and carrying a metre-long sword.

The force said the officer sustained injuries to his face and back and, although serious, they are not life threatening.

One witness, who gave his name as Haroon, said he saw a man being arrested by officers on Upper Chorlton Road, who had been "attacking the police".

Describing how the man was carrying a "3ft tool or sword", he said the man ran across the road into the front garden of a property on the street.

"From there the police tried to stun him because he wasn't dropping the weapon ... I don't know if the officer made a successful tase," he added.

"He became even more aggressive and ran towards them with the weapon up in the air ... from there the officers tackled him, pushed him over and then I think he ran backwards and fell over.

"That is when the officer tried to disarm him, and you could see them using their weapons (batons) and they were hitting him on the legs - and he was not letting go.

"You could see him still hitting back while he was on the floor."

He said the man "had hit a couple of the officers" and added that he saw them bleeding, one from the lip or nose, and another at the top of the head.

He added that before he was arrested, the man appeared to be "out looking for trouble" and was shouting during the incident.

Dramatic footage has emerged of a man with a sword attacking two police officers, seriously injuring one of them, in Manchester's Whalley Range earlier this afternoon. 23-year-old man under arrest after suspect was tasered and disarmed. pic.twitter.com/LGtINuV9qk

— BBC North West (@BBCNWT) March 25, 2018

This is the sword recovered after a man attacked police on Upper Chorlton Road this afternoon...https://t.co/ODtyK0aSsR pic.twitter.com/eAts4rbR6b

— Manchester News MEN (@MENnewsdesk) March 25, 2018

A 23-year-old man has been arrested after a police officer was slashed with a sword in Whalley Range.
The incident happened about 1.50pm today (Sunday 25 March 2018) on Demesne Road.
The officer is currently in hospital with serious injuries.
A number of roads remain closed.

— Greater Manchester Police (@gmpolice) March 25, 2018

- PA, AAP