A police officer has lost a litre and a half of blood after he was repeatedly stabbed during an emergency call during lockdown.
Sergeant Carl Blanks, 47, is in a serious condition but stable condition in hospital, Gwent Police said, following an incident in Newport.
A man was arrested and charged at the scene of the attack, Mohammed Ibrahim, 33, appeared in court today charged with attempted murder, he is also charged with attempting to wound Sgt Leighton Healan in the incident that took place on Thursday.
Mohammed Ibrahim is facing a further charge of arson after trying to set fire to his home in Newport, South Wales, while the two officers were inside.
During the ten minutes court hearing, Ibrahim appeared by video link from a cell at Ystrad Mynach Police Station.
and wore a coronavirus face mask throughout.
Police were called to Ibrahim’s home at 5.15am on Thursday after neighbours heard a disturbance but were too afraid to investigate because of potential exposure to Covid-19.
Cardiff magistrates heard the officers tasered Ibrahim but he recovered instantly and is alleged to have pulled out a knife.
Sgt Blanks was stabbed multiple times in the abdomen before Ibrahim is said to have set fire to the property in St. Vincent’s Lane, close to Newport city centre.
Ibrahim allegedly tried to stab Sgt Healan after the fire was started and was tasered several times during the incident with the shots having little effect on the attacker.
The court heard Ibrahim was overpowered by officers after he climbed onto the roof of the terraced house.
An application for bail, made in Arabic through an interpreter but was refused by District Judge Stephen Harmes, he was remanded in custody and is due to appear before Newport Crown Court on June 22.
A Gwent Police spokesman said: “At approximately 5.15am on Thursday 23 April, officers responded to a report of disorder at an address in St Vincent Lane in Newport.
“A 33-year-old man from the Newport area appeared at Cardiff Magistrates Court, via video link, on Saturday 25 April.
“He was charged with the attempted murder of a police officer, arson with intent to endanger life and an attempted section 18 assault against a second officer on Friday 24 April. He was remanded into custody.
“The police sergeant remains in a serious and stable condition in hospital.”
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Editor-in-Chief | Carl D. Pearson has been involved in British politics and media from an early age, with the key knowledge of what it takes to run a news organisation for the 21st century. Mr Pearson, as Editor-in-chief, is responsible for supervising the daily tasks of publishing media and content to UNN’s website and various platforms.
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