Police engaged in hand to hand combat with thugs armed with knives, petrol bombs and staves in a bid to rescue Pc Keith Blakelock during the 1985 Tottenham riots, the Old Bailey heard today.
Pc Alan Tappy, a local beat officer, was part of a team including Pc Blakelock who were defending firemen during the riots on the Broadwater Farm estate.
In a statement read out to the jury, he described the moment the 11 officers were surrounded by a mob of about 150 youths. His evidence came on the second day of the trial of Nicholas Jacobs, 45, for the murder of Pc Blakelock.
Pc Tappy told how he noticed a group of youths attacking a “bundle” on the ground which he later realised was Pc Blakelock. He and a sergeant ran over and “at that stage there was hand to hand” fighting. “It was hand to hand combat,” he said. The officer put a shield over the officer believing then that he was dead.
Jacobs denies murder. The trial continues.
