Police officer in hospital after accidentally shooting himself in the leg

The incident happened when the officer was alone in a police building in Putney, south west London

File image: A Police firearms officer is in hospital after accidentally shooting himself in the leg (AFP/Getty Images)

A Met police firearms officer is in hospital after he shot himself in the leg by accident.

The marksman, a member of the specialist Flying Squad, was injured when his gun went off at a police armoury in Putney, south west London.

No one else was present when it happened.

The officer was taken to a hospital in south London, where he is in a stable condition, the Metropolitan Police said.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: “At 9am on Monday and officer was injured when a firearm in his possession was discharged inside a police building in Putney.

“No other people were present at the time. The was officer was taken to a south London hospital where he remains in a stable condition.

“Inquiries into the circumstances are under way and the Directorate of Professional Standards has been informed.”