A MAN is in a critical condition after being shot by police in Forest Hill.

At around 5.40am this morning (February 19) police were called to reports of a man attempting to break in to a car in Elsinore Road.

Officers attended and attempted to approach the man who then threatened them with a large bladed weapon.

The man then approached officers in Stanstead Road threatening them with the weapon.

Firearms officers attended the scene, and both taser and firearms were used which resulted in the man receiving gunshot wounds.

A spokesman said the man in his early 20s, originally from Ghana but now of Forest Hill, was being treated at Kings College Hospital.

He is in a critical but stable condition.

A Met Police spokesman said: The circumstances will now be subject of an investigation.

“There will are no further details at present but we can confirm a number of knives have been recovered from the scene.”

Roads are closed in the area due to the incident.

The Met's Directorate of Professional Standards has been informed.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has been informed and this is now being treated as an independent investigation by them, as is standard practice for police shootings.

IPCC Commissioner Mike Franklin said: "This young man is receiving medical attention and his condition is described as critical.

"His family have been informed and have been taken to the hospital by the police so that they can be close to him.

"The IPCC investigation will be carried out by our own investigators and will look at the circumstances leading up to this shooting."

Police will be meeting with community members to ensure they are aware of the facts of the incident.