Man in hospital after falling ill following arrest

Image caption, Ambulance and fire crews responded to a potential "chemical incident"

A man arrested on suspicion of assaulting police in south-east London was taken to hospital in a serious condition after saying he ingested drugs.

Police were called to reports of a group of shoplifters in Penge High Street at 18:30 BST on Wednesday and arrested one man who they pursued on foot.

While taking the man to hospital, the Metropolitan Police said two officers in the police van had become unwell and so they stopped the vehicle in Hayes Lane, Bromley, where ambulance and fire crews were called over a possible chemical exposure.

The incident was then "stood down" and the officers were taken to hospital "as a precaution", a Met spokesperson said.

The officers have since left hospital and are "doing ok", the Met said.

The man remains in a serious condition in hospital, they added.

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