Armed officers discharged firearms at a residential address in Luton on Tuesday after responding to reports of a knife threat, leaving a man with serious injuries. The incident unfolded at approximately 12:50 BST on Cardigan Street, where police were called to reports that a man was threatening a woman with a knife.
During the response, one officer fired four shots while a colleague discharged a baton round. The man was struck in the arm and leg, sustaining injuries described as life-changing but not life-threatening. The woman who was stabbed also received injuries that were not life-threatening. Both were transported to hospital for medical care, with the man remaining under police watch.
Detective Chief Superintendent Zara Brown of Bedfordshire Police said the force had acted decisively.
Officers "responded quickly" to the unfolding incident. "As part of this response, shots were fired by police, and one man sustained serious injuries," she stated. "Immediate first aid was provided, and he has been taken to hospital, where he remains under police watch."
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has launched an investigation into the police response. A spokesman for the watchdog confirmed that preliminary steps had been taken to preserve evidence.
"We have secured the police firearms for examination and CCTV and officers' body worn video have been viewed,"the spokesman said.
What happens next?
Bedfordshire Police indicated it would release further details about the IOPC investigation as information becomes available. The force did not provide additional comment on the circumstances leading to the decision to use firearms.
This incident reflects a broader pattern of knife-related violence across England. In recent months, a 24-year-old woman was fatally stabbed in Hayes, west London, with a man arrested on suspicion of murder. Similarly, two people were injured after a man threatened others with a knife in Brighton in late June, leading to the arrest of a 33-year-old suspect.
Key facts
- The incident occurred at an address on Cardigan Street in Luton at approximately 12:50 BST on Tuesday
- One officer fired four shots and another discharged a baton round; the man was struck in the arm and leg
- Both the man and woman sustained injuries that were not life-threatening, though the man's injuries were described as life-changing
- The Independent Office for Police Conduct is investigating the police response, with firearms, CCTV and body-worn video already secured for examination
