Police Tasered me as I tackled crazed knifeman on train

When a knife-wielding drunk hijacked a train on the Docklands Light Railway, passenger Tariq Elmenstirly leapt into action.

The 23-year-old student jumped on top of the attacker and pinned him down until police could get there.

Armed officers burst into the carriage, fearing someone had been stabbed and immediately Tasered the suspect, knifeman Mohammed Hussain.

There was just one problem, they had zapped the hero.

Today, as Hussain faced jail for the attack, Mr Elmenstirly told of his anger that he had not received any thanks from police for his actions - or even an apology from the officer who stunned him with the Taser.

Mr Elmenstirly, from Acton, told the Standard: "All I wanted was for the officer to come up to me and say, 'I made the wrong call'.

"But I was so relieved I didn't get shot for real. The guy holding the gun was huge and I was just pleased I made it out without major injury."

The Bournemouth University student, 23, leapt into action at 7am last July when Hussain, of Shadwell, pulled the emergency stop in east London and told terrified passengers: "I'm holding the train hostage."

About 30 people managed to flee through the emergency exits but Hussain closed the doors, trapping Mr Elmenstirly inside along with ex-paratrooper Colin Ballinger and train guard Gerald Li.

Hussain, 20 - who had been drinking and left a suicide note at his home - told passengers: "If I see any police officers I'm going to stab someone."

Police in a helicopter saw Hussain on the floor with Mr Elmenstirly on top of him and initially thought someone had been stabbed.

Armed police rushed into the carriage but confused the student with the knifeman - and one Tasered him as he tried to stand up.

Mr Elmenstirly said having thousands of volts of electricity fired into his body was "horrible".

"It feels like your heart has stopped for a second and you're motionless because all your muscles are tense. All I was thinking about was trying to breathe. I fell to the floor but I was conscious the whole time."

He said he did not want compensation for his ordeal but added: "I didn't get an apology, which was annoying.

"Even a 'thank you' would have been sufficient."

Hussain, who admitted false imprisonment and possessing an offensive weapon, was due to be sentenced at Blackfriars crown court yesterday but will be further held in custody for a probation report on whether he is a danger to the public.

His lawyer Parveen Mansoor said: "Drink is clearly the cause. If he is drink-free he is not dangerous. If he drinks he clearly can be, so it is the drink that needs to be dealt with."

The Met claimed that two senior officers had apologised in phone conversations with the victim.

A Met spokeswoman said: "Mr Elmenstirly acted very bravely that day and it is regrettable that he was tasered following police intervention. Mr Elmenstirly received appropriate care and support at the time and the incident was then reviewed by senior officers who apologised to him on behalf of the Metropolitan Police."