Hackney shooting: Man fighting for life after being shot by police in London

Officer suffers 'slash injury' during incident and is taken to hospital

Specialist firearms officers were called to reports of a domestic disturbance at a home in Hackney (AFP/Getty)

A man is in a life-threatening condition after being shot by police in London.

The 28-year-old suspect was shot by armed officers responding to reports of a suspect "armed with knives and making threats to kill" in Hackney.

Specialist firearms officers were called to reports of a domestic disturbance at a home in Knights Close at 9.43pm on Tuesday, the Metropolitan Police said.

An officer suffered a "slash injury" during the incident and was taken to hospital.

Police said: "Firearms officers were deployed and a male was shot by police. He has been conveyed to an east London hospital."

A spokesperson for the force said on Wednesday morning that the man remained in "a life-threatening condition".

The officer's injury was not believed to be life-threatening and there were no other reported injuries.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct is aware of the incident and has launched its own investigation, Scotland Yard said.

The force's standards body has also been informed.

Home Office officials have recorded a surge in knife crime over recent years.

It documented 39,818 knife crimes in the 12 months ending September 2018.

This is 66 per cent increase compared to the low point recorded during the 12 months ending in March 2014.

Figures for Greater Manchester region were not included in the figures due to data sharing issues.

Out of the 44 police forces in England and Wales 42 have recorded an increase in knife crime since 2011.