Bag of guns and Taser left on south London street sparks probe
Bag of guns and Taser left on south London street sparks probe
Five Met officers protecting Sadiq Khan are removed from frontline duties as investigators probe how a bag containing firearms and a Taser was left on a south London street.
Armed police protecting the London mayor are at the center of a formal probe after a bag containing weapons was found on a south London street. Five Metropolitan Police officers have been stepped back from frontline duties while investigators review the incident and establish exactly what happened. The bag was discovered on a kerbside around 9:40pm on Tuesday, and officers arrived within minutes to recover the items safely.
The contents included an MP5 semi-automatic carbine, a Glock pistol, a Taser and ammunition. A referral has been made to the Met’s directorate of professional standards as inquiries continue, with authorities saying they are urgently reviewing the circumstances and recognising the concern it may cause. It is believed the bag was misplaced by on-duty officers shortly before the discovery.
Met officials emphasised the seriousness of the incident and the commitment to transparency as the investigation proceeds. While there is no suggestion of a broader threat, the episode has raised questions about the security of protective details for high-profile figures and the safeguards in place to prevent such lapses. The recovery of the weapons in a swift response appears to have prevented any harm, but the case will be examined to determine responsibilities and any potential disciplinary action.
A local scaffolder, Jordan Griffiths, told reporters his pregnant partner spotted the bag and alerted police. He described the moment as heavy and unexpected and stressed the importance of a thorough inquiry to prevent a repeat. The incident is expected to feed into ongoing reviews of security protocols for officers assigned to high-profile protectees.
