Two arrested after police helicopter targeted by 'incredibly dangerous' laser torch

Two people have been arrested after an "incredibly dangerous" laser torch was shone into the eyes of a police helicopter crew.

Police said that a officers from the National Police Air Service in Epsom, Surrey were targeted by the "huge" torch on Sunday night.

There have been several less dangerous incidents of people shining smaller laser pens towards police or ambulance helicopters, but officers said they were "shocked" to find the suspects using a much more powerful beam.

Two men were arrested with the help of local ground police and police dogs and were later released under investigation, officers added.

A spokesperson for Surrey Police said: "On Sunday evening, our [National Police Air Service] colleagues were in the Epsom area assisting with the search of a missing person.

"Whilst in the air a laser pen was shone into the aircraft a number of times. This caused concern to the pilot and crew and put the entire team at risk.

"NPAS guided ground units to the area where they suspected the lasers has been shone from.

"Within minutes, a 20 year old man and a 32 year old man, both from Epsom, had been arrested under the Laser Misuse Act 2019 and have been released under investigation."

National Police Air Service said in a statement on Twitter: "Redhill crew were subject of a #aser attack tonight.

"A swift response by @SurreyPolice and a @sspoldogsection 4 legged friend resulted in 2 arrests.

"Shocked to discover it wasn’t the usual laser pen, but was a huge laser TORCH, extremely powerful and incredibly dangerous!"