Five Met officers taken off duty after weapons find

Five Met Officers Placed on Leave Following Weapons Find

Bag Discovered on London Street Sparks Investigation

The Metropolitan Police confirmed that five officers have been temporarily removed from frontline duties after a bag containing firearms and a Taser was found on a London street. The items were located outside the residence of London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan, as reported by The Sun.

“At this stage, it is believed the bag was misplaced by on-duty officers shortly before a member of the public found it,” the police stated in a release.

The bag, which included a sub-machine gun, a pistol, and ammunition, was reported by a passerby on Tuesday evening. The individual became suspicious after spotting the bag on the roadside and alerted their partner before contacting authorities.

Officers Recover Items Quickly

When police arrived at the scene within seven minutes of the call, they safely retrieved the weapons. The force emphasized that the items were recovered without incident, though the situation has raised public concern.

“Officers were really shocked when they arrived. They examined the bag thoroughly and quickly removed the items,” Jordan Griffiths, a witness, told The Sun.

Griffiths added that the bag was likely left by one of Sir Sadiq Khan’s security personnel, given its proximity to the mayor’s home. A spokesperson for Khan called the incident serious, urging the police to take measures to prevent similar occurrences.

Review of Incident Begins

The Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards is conducting a review to determine the cause of the mishap. Khan’s office highlighted the importance of ensuring public safety, especially after the 2017 decision to establish a full-time police presence for 24-hour protection.