Five Met officers taken off duty after weapons find

Five Met Officers Suspended Following Weapons Discovery

A bag containing firearms and a Taser was uncovered on a London street, prompting the Metropolitan Police to suspend five officers from active duty. The find, reported by a member of the public on Tuesday evening, occurred near the residence of London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan, according to The Sun.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed that the items were Met-issued, including a sub-machine gun, pistol, Taser, and ammunition. The incident unfolded when the public located the bag outside the mayor’s home, leading to an immediate police response. Officers arrived within seven minutes and secured the weapons without incident.

“We are urgently reviewing the circumstances of this event and acknowledge the public’s concern,” stated the police force.

A passerby, Jordan Griffiths, shared that he noticed the bag on the roadside and alerted his partner after suspecting its contents. Following a brief inspection, he documented the items with photographs before contacting authorities. “When the police arrived, they were visibly surprised. They examined the bag meticulously and quickly retrieved the weapons,” Griffiths recounted.

The mayor’s office suggested the bag might have been left by one of his personal security staff, aligning with the location of the discovery. A spokesperson for Sir Sadiq emphasized the gravity of the situation, vowing that the Met must implement measures to prevent such occurrences. In 2017, the mayor had opted for round-the-clock police protection after assessing heightened risks to his safety.