Five Met officers taken off duty after weapons find

Five Met officers taken off duty after weapons find

A bag containing firearms and a Taser was discovered on a London street, leading to the removal of five Metropolitan Police officers from frontline roles, the force confirmed. The find occurred on Tuesday evening, as reported by The Sun, and was located outside the home of London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan. The Met stated that the bag was likely misplaced by officers on duty shortly before it was spotted by a member of the public.

Inside the bag were a sub-machine gun, a pistol, a Taser, and several rounds of ammunition, according to reports. The police were alerted at approximately 9:40pm when a member of the public called emergency services. Within seven minutes of the call, officers arrived at the scene and secured the items without incident. The Met emphasized its ongoing review of the event and acknowledged the public’s concern.

“When they arrived, they were really shocked. They examined the bag thoroughly and quickly retrieved the weapons,” said Jordan Griffiths, a passerby who noticed the bag on the roadside. Griffiths added that he photographed the contents before contacting the police, who arrived shortly after. “I was informed the items had been left there by one of Sadiq Khan’s security officers, which made sense since he lives nearby,” he explained.

A spokesperson for Sir Sadiq Khan called the situation serious, stating that the Met must take all necessary steps to prevent similar occurrences. In 2017, Khan had agreed to a full-time police presence, ensuring 24-hour protection, after being convinced of the risks to those around him.