While investing a reported burglary last night, a police officer was killed.

The officer was a newlywed who got married just a few weeks back. PC Andrew Harper breathed his last at 11:30 pm last night.

This was after he responded to a reported break-in near the A4 Bath Road, close to Reading and Newbury.

It was recently known that the twenty-eight-year-old got married to his partner a few weeks before his death. He was from Roads Policing Proactive Unit situated at Abingdon Police Station.

The incident took place at the crossroads of Lambdens Hill and Ufton Lane. While the A4 has been reopened, Lambdens Hill and Ufton Lane remain closed. Thames Valley Police confirmed that they had arrested ten people on suspicion of the murder of the officer. The ten men are aged between thirteen and thirty.

Deputy Chief Constable, Jason Hogg, said that the police holds deepest thoughts and are with Andrew’s family and friends who are being backed by specially trained officers.

He further offered sympathies to Andrew’s colleagues in Thames Valley Police along with his family. He revealed that as a force they feel devastated at the loss of their colleague and will support each other at a difficult time.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson also paid tribute to Andrew and mentioned that he is deeply appalled and shocked by the death of a courageous on-duty officer in Thames Valley the previous night, extending his condolences to his friends, family, and colleagues.

He further praised the police officers for putting their lives in danger to keep everyone safe.

Detective Chief Inspector of the Thames Valley Police Major Crime Unit, Stuart Blaik, confirmed that the investigation was going on and urged those with any information to come forward.  He asked anyone with any detail regarding the incident to visit their website or call 101.

Share this post with your friends and family:)