A MURDER investigation has been launched after a Metropolitan police officer was shot at a police station.

The officer was shot by a man being detained at Croydon police station in South London in the early hours of this morning, the Met has said.

He was taken to hospital after officers and paramedics treated him at the scene, and sadly died at hospital.

A 23-year-old man who was detained at the scene was taken to hospital with a gunshot wound. He remains in a critical condition.

The Met stress that no police firearms were discharged in the incident.

Met police commissioner Cressida Dick said: “This is a truly shocking incident in which one of our colleagues has lost his life in the most tragic circumstances. My heart goes out to his family, direct colleagues and friends.

“We are currently supporting his family and also have a dedicated team providing support to the officers and those in the custody centre who witnessed the shooting.

"When a colleague dies in the line of duty the shockwaves and sadness reverberates throughout the Met and our communities. Policing is a family, within London and nationally, and we will all deeply mourn our colleague.

“We are in the early stages of the investigation and are still working to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and we will provide further updates when we have them."

The Met have referred the incident to the Independent Office for Police Conduct who will lead an independent investigation.