Armed officers assigned to protect London Mayor Sadiq Khan inadvertently left a bag containing firearms on a street close to his residence, raising serious security concerns.
As a result of this incident, five officers have been suspended from their frontline roles pending an investigation. The bag reportedly included a Heckler & Koch submachine gun, a Glock pistol, a Taser, and ammunition.
The Metropolitan Police’s Directorate of Professional Standards has confirmed that it is currently reviewing the circumstances surrounding the incident. In an official statement, the police noted, „A member of the public called police after finding a bag containing Met-issued firearms and a Taser on a street in south London.“ Officers arrived at the scene within seven minutes and safely retrieved the items.
According to the police, it is believed that the bag was left behind by on-duty officers shortly before it was discovered by the member of the public.
Details of the Discovery
The incident occurred around 9:40 PM on Tuesday. Jordan Griffiths recounted the moment his pregnant partner stumbled upon the bag by the curb. „I could not believe my eyes. There was a handgun in the front pocket and a submachine gun in the main part of the bag,“ he stated.
Griffiths promptly notified the police, who responded quickly to collect the holdall. He remarked, „When they arrived they were really shocked … I was told they had been left there by one of Sadiq Khan’s security officers, which made sense as he lives here.“
Official Response
A spokesperson for Mayor Khan commented on the situation, stating, „This is a very serious incident, which has been referred to the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards. The Met must now take all steps to ensure an incident like this never occurs again.“
The incident has sparked discussions regarding the protocols in place for the security of public officials and the handling of firearms by law enforcement personnel.
Bildquelle: Bildquelle: Asim Rehman auf Unsplash
