Police officers and social worker attacked

Two police officers and a social worker have been attacked in north London.

Police were called to assist the social worker who was attempting to check on the welfare of children in Wood Green at about 19:20 BST on Friday.

The 61-year-old social worker was stabbed multiple times, a police officer was slashed and a second officer was assaulted.

A 33-year-old man who was arrested at the scene on suspicion of grievous bodily harm remains in custody.

Two other men were also arrested at a nearby property in connection with the incident. The Met said the nature of their involvement was still being established.

The officers have left hospital while the social worker’s condition has been described as non-life changing.

Scotland Yard said when entry was refused, the officers forced entry leading to the attack in a communal part of the building in Noel Park Road.

Steps have been taken to ensure the welfare of the children who were the subject of the initial welfare visit, police said.

The Met has appealed for anyone with information on the attack to contact the force or Crimestoppers anonymously.

Ch Supt Treena Fleming, policing commander for Haringey and Enfield, said she was appalled by the attack.

“Social workers play a vital role in ensuring that vulnerable people in our community, including children, are safe and protected,” she said.

“This incident shows just how much of a threat knives pose to everyone in Haringey and across London.”

In a joint statement, the leader of Haringey Council, councillor Peray Ahmet, and the local authority’s chief executive, Zina Etheridge, said it was a shocking incident.

“Social workers do an incredibly important job. Their safety is of uppermost importance to us,” they said.

“This type of incident, while rare, is an important reminder that frontline staff across the public sector put themselves in harm’s way to do their jobs and we should all express our thanks and support for them as they do so.”