Three unarmed police officers who charged a gunman after he opened fire on them have been praised for their bravery.

The man fired at officers as they sat in a marked police car on Gladstone Way in the early hours of Thursday morning. Despite their best efforts, he managed to flee the scene.

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Harrow police chief Simon Ovens met with the three officers later to commend them for their courage.

He said: "I want to pay tribute to my officers that were down there. Even though they were down there dealing with another incident, and even though they were shot at, they still turned round and tried to capture that man.

“Every day my officers are out there keeping you safe in Harrow, and this is another example of how brave they are and how they always step up to the mark to make sure they continue to make Harrow the safest borough in London."

Trident – the Met’s shooting investigations team – was conducting an intensive “fingertip” search of the area this afternoon. Much of the area around Gladstone Way is cordoned off while the search is carried out.

The team has already located ammunition casings but is still searching for the weapon used. 

Mr Ovens has spoken with leading community figures, including council leader Sachin Shah and Harrow West MP Gareth Thomas, so explain that everything possible was being done to capture the shooter.

“The feeling from the community is one of shock that this has happened, and also respect and sympathy for the officers who were fired at,” he added.

The gunman is described as a black male wearing a grey hooded top and jeans.

Police were originally called to reports of a man seen in possession of a firearm in Byron Road at around 12.30am.

Officers attended and carried out a search of the area. They arrested a man for possession to supply Class B drugs and took him to a north London police station. No weapon was found.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact the investigation team via 101, or call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.