North Woolwich Police Station
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Airport guard dies after being found with serious gunshot wounds

An investigation has been launched after an armed Met police airport guard shot himself dead at a Docklands police station.

The constable, in his 30s, was a member of London City Airport's SO18 security team. He was found by a colleague with serious gunshot wounds at North Woolwich station, in Newham, at 2.30pm on Sunday.

Paramedics battled to save his life but he was pronounced dead 22 minutes later. Scotland Yard today said no-one else was being sought in connection with the tragedy.

The station is used as a base by armed officers on the nearby airport's Aviation Security Command.

Labourer Paul Skinback, 25, who was in the Royal Standard Hotel opposite, said: "I went to the pub with a couple of mates at around 2pm.

"Pretty soon after we heard a bang. It was really loud. We all stopped for a second as it's not something you'd usually hear.

"It sounded like a gunshot but I thought at worst it was someone getting rid of the pigeons."

He added: "When we came out there were police cars lining the road along the side of the station and we knew something serious had happened."

Zane Hussain, 27, who works at Masala Indian restaurant on Pier Road, said: "There were more than a dozen police cars parked on the street all afternoon.

"Emergency services started arriving at around 2.30pm. First police, then ambulances and then we saw the forensics teams arriving and there was a lot of to-ing and fro-ing.

"I know a lot of the coppers that work in the station, but I didn't want to ask any of them what was going on because they looked upset and busy. I didn't want to be rude. I could sense that it was something unusual."

Others working in the row of shops opposite the side gate of the station said emergency services did not leave the scene until after 11pm.

The officer's family has been informed. An inquest is due to open tomorrow as a report is prepared by officers from the Directorate of Professional Standards.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "A serving Metropolitan Police officer was found suffering gunshot injuries at North Woolwich Police Station at around 2.30pm on Sunday.

"London Ambulance Service attended. The male officer, aged in his 30s, was pronounced dead at 2.52pm. Next of kin have been informed. We await formal identification.

"A report is being prepared for the coroner by officers from the Directorate of Professional Standards."