Man charged with attempted murder of police

Police constables Laura Sayer, 39, and Kenny MacKenzie, 43, were both seriously injured at a house in Gateside Gardens, Greenock, Inverclyde, on Friday morning.

 

The man, who has been arrested and charged, is due to appear in Greenock Sheriff Court on Monday.

 

A report will also be sent to the Procurator Fiscal.

 

Meanwhile, colleagues have praised the "incredible bravery" of the two officers, who were initially taken to the nearby Royal Inverclyde

Hospital - although one has since been transferred to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow for further treatment.

 

Pc Sayer has six months' service with Police Scotland and Pc MacKenzie has been an officer for nine years.

 

Police have stressed incident was not terror-related and there is no risk to the wider public.

 

Assistant Chief Constable Bernard Higgins, who visited both officers on Friday, said afterwards: "I went to the hospital and I spoke to both officers. They were in remarkable good spirits. I'm blown away by the courage of them. I was actually very moved and proud to speak with

them."

 

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon also sent her best wishes, adding: "This is a reminder of the vital but often dangerous job our police men and

women do, and what a huge debt of gratitude we owe to them."

 

Police Scotland has referred the incident to the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (Pirc).