Chilling CCTV shows moment knifeman launched attack on four police officers after luring them to London property

A university drop-out has been found guilty of a knife attack on four police officers which was caught on horrifying CCTV footage.

Alex Traykov, 20, used the alias "Solomon" when he rang 999 to report a fight at a house in Islington, north London, on the evening of October 6 last year.

He then lay in wait with a large kitchen knife hidden behind his back in the hallway of his friend's flat.

The Old Bailey heard that within three minutes, four officers arrived on the doorstep completely unprepared for the "extreme violence" about to be unleashed on them.

Traykov was cleared of attempted murder but convicted of three counts of wounding with intent and a fourth charge of attempted wounding with intent. The jury deliberated for eight hours to reach verdicts by a majority of 10 to two.

Prosecutor Duncan Atkinson QC had told jurors how Traykov brought the blade down onto the head of Pc Istarlin Said-Ali, 31, cutting her hand as she warded off a second blow.

He lunged at Pc Rafal Zedziora, 34, cutting his face and slashing the back of his neck.

He went on to attack Pc Ben Thomson, 40, before he was finally brought down by Pc Launa Watkins, 39, who Tasered him twice.

Pc Said-Ali told jurors that Traykov was "emotionless" in the moments before he produced the blade.

She said: "I tried to protect myself so naturally I raised my arms. He tried to attack me with the knife. He made contact, hitting my middle finger and also to the back of my head.”

Giving evidence at the Old Bailey, Traykov, who lived with his estate agent mother in Redhill, Surrey, accepted he had injured the officers but denied he meant them serious harm.

The former Winchester University history student said he was so "high" on cannabis he was not thinking straight.

He claimed he had called 999 to play a "prank" on his friend then forgotten all about it and made crumpets with jam.

Traykov claimed he was still holding a knife he had used to make food when he answered the door.

The jury deliberated for eight hours to reach its verdicts by a majority of 10 to 2.

Traykov, who made no reaction in the dock, was remanded into custody.

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Judge Wendy Joseph QC said Traykov faced a "substantial" prison term when he is sentenced on May 10.

Following the verdict Pc Watkins said: "When I attended the call that night it was with the intention of protecting the public, I didn't realise it would in fact be me, and my colleagues, who would be fighting for our lives at the hands of a knife wielding 19-year-old, who had lured us to the address with the intention of carrying out the attack.

"I have never been subjected to such a violent and determined attack in the entirety of my 16 years of service, and I hope that no other officer ever has to endure such gratuitous violence.”