A man in court to be sentenced for fraud offences doused himself with a noxious substance in the dock, causing critical injuries.
Marc Marshall, 54, poured the substance over himself at London Crown Court on Monday following sentencing, the BBC reports.
Reports state that a dock officer was also injured during the incident, though she did not need hospital treatment.
Marshall was reported to have been carrying a metal water bottle but CCTV footage is said to have shown him sipping from it as he went through security.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: “Police were called to Court 10, Inner London Crown Court, at 12.01pm on Monday, 29 April, following reports of a serious assault.
“Officers, London Ambulance Service and London Air Ambulance attended and a male aged in his 50s was found to have doused himself with a noxious substance.
“He has been taken to hospital for treatment of his injuries. His condition is critical.
“A female dock officer was also injured by some of the substance. Her injuries are not believed to be serious and she did not require hospital treatment.”
The BBC reported that Marshall’s case had already been delayed due to medical problems he suffered after stabbing himself in the neck when he was arrested in 2016.
An HM Courts and Tribunals Service spokeswoman said: “The safety and security of all court users is our priority and we’re deeply concerned about the incident at Inner London Sessions House.
“Police are urgently investigating what happened and it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.”
