By Neville Dean, PA Crime Correspondent
An off-duty police officer is critically ill in hospital after being attacked
following a night out, Scotland Yard said today.
The 21-year-old Pc, who has not been named, had just left a night club in
Bromley, south London, with a group of friends when the assault happened in the
early hours of Sunday morning.
The group had walked to their car, a black Ford Ka parked in Queens Road, and
had got in when they were approached by two male youths, one of whom spat at the
vehicle.
The off-duty officer, who is based at Deptford, got out to remonstrate with
the youths and a scuffle ensued.
He was punched and knocked to the ground and sustained a serious head injury.
The two suspects ran off and the officer was taken to hospital, where he
remains critically ill.
Detective Chief Inspector David Garwood said: "I would like to appeal to
anyone who was in the area at about half past midnight on Sunday morning who
believes they may have seen the altercation or events leading up to the
altercation to please contact me.
"I'd also like to appeal to an Asian man who was on a route 358 bus in that
area at that time, which the two youths got on to after they fled the scene."
Two 16-year-old youths were arrested in connection with the assault. They were
taken into custody to separate south London police stations, before being
released on bail.
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