Five Met officers taken off duty after weapons find

Five Met Officers Suspended Following Discovery of Weapons Bag

A London resident stumbled upon a bag containing firearms and a Taser near Sir Sadiq Khan’s residence on Tuesday evening, prompting an immediate police response. The Metropolitan Police confirmed that five officers were temporarily removed from frontline duties after the incident. According to reports, the bag was discovered outside the mayor’s home, as detailed by The Sun.

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

Inside the bag, authorities identified a sub-machine gun, a pistol, and ammunition, alongside the Taser. The force noted that the items were recovered swiftly once officers arrived at the scene. “Within seven minutes of the call, officers safely retrieved the contents,” they added.

Jordan Griffiths, a passerby, recounted the moment he spotted the bag. “I became suspicious after seeing it on the roadside and alerted my partner,” he said. After inspecting the items, Griffiths took photographs before contacting the police. “When they arrived, they were clearly taken aback. They examined the bag thoroughly and quickly took the weapons away,” he explained.

“The Met must now take all steps to ensure an incident like this never occurs again,” said a spokesperson for Sir Sadiq Khan, describing the situation as serious.

In 2017, Sir Sadiq Khan opted for full-time police protection, a decision influenced by the perceived risks to his surroundings. The current incident has raised questions about security protocols, even as the Directorate of Professional Standards investigates the circumstances.