Cookery school siege as chef threatens to kill himself after failing exam

And these officers were taking no chances when a trainee at a famous culinary school grabbed a knife and sparked a four-hour siege.

Whether his souffle had taken a turn for the worse, or his truffle dipping had let him down, is not known.

Taking stock: An officer breaks out the riot shields before tackling the chef

But what is certain is that the 28-year-old had just been told he had not made the grade in his practical test.

He demanded to see the head chef of the Le Cordon Bleu course and when he was told he could not retake the exam he whipped out one of his cooking knives and threatened to kill himself unless allowed another try.

Police were called and, after negotiations failed, officers protected by riot shields burst in and used a Taser shock gun to subdue the enraged chef.

Yesterday, he was still being questioned after a night in hospital.

Emergency services lay seige at the Le Cordon Bleu cooking school, where a trainee chef threatened to kill himself

Students at the cookery school in Marylebone, central London, begin by studying basic cuisine and basic patisserie.

Practical exams include making basic stocks and dipping truffles in chocolate. Knife handling is also tested.

Year-long courses at Le Cordon Bleu in Marylebone cost £12,000 - plus a £100 deposit for special sharp knives - and attract students from all over the world.

One of the chef's fellow trainees said: 'I've been told he's a French-Algerian student who spent all his savings on the course.

'After he was told he had failed he went in to see the head chef and demanded another chance to prove himself.'

Le Cordon Bleu was founded in Paris in 1895 and has since spread to 29 schools across the world.

Chefs from the UK who have studied at Le Cordon Bleu include Prue Leith, Sally Clarke, who runs Clarke's restaurant in Kensington, and Allegra McEvedy, who founded the Leon healthy fast food chain.

Tempers flare: Police seal off the Cordon Bleu cooking school

Fast response: Ambulances were on standby

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: 'We were called at 5.24pm after receiving reports of man armed with a knife threatening to self-harm at a commercial premises in Marylebone.

'A negotiator attended the scene and was talking to the male and subsequently territorial support group officers entered the catering school at 20.55.

'The 28-year-old man was Tasered and arrested. He suffered no apparent injury but was treated anyway by paramedics. It is thought he had failed a training course.'

Le Cordon Bleu declined to comment.

Prestigious: Le Cordon Bleu, one of the world's most famous cookery schools