Eleven police officers have been injured by a suspected chemical substance while carrying out a drugs raid in New Barnet, north London.

Video shows police at the scene and locals describing what happened. One said an officer's shoe was "burnt through" from acid.

One woman said: "We saw loads of armed police raiding into one of the units. We saw banging, some flashing lights. As the police officers came out we could see they’ve been covered income kind of substance. We ran and got one of our hoses from the back garden and gave it to one of the officers as fast as we could. We knocked on the neighbours’ doors as well. Everyone got their hose [to help]."

A male eyewitness said: "They had to cut their clothes off. One of the officers’ shoes was burnt through because of the acid."

In a statement, the Met Police said: "At around 13:50hrs on Wednesday, 23 September, officers attended an industrial area in Dale Close, Barnet, to execute a drugs warrant as part of a proactive operation.

"As they executed the warrant, officers were injured by a suspected corrosive substance."

"11 firearms officers are believed to have suffered injuries and are receiving medical treatment have all gone to hospital. We await an assessment of the extent of these injuries. However none are believed to be in a life-threatening condition.

"Four males were arrested on suspicion of drug offences at this stage."

The scene on Dale Close in New Barnet, north London, where around 11 police officers have been injured in an acid attack after a drugs raid. Around 1.50pm the officers attended an industrial area to executed a drugs warrant as part of a proactive operation.



The Met Police said 10 officers came into contact with a corrosive substance at around 1.50pm during an operation in Dale Close, off Great North Road near New Barnet.