Five Met officers taken off duty after weapons find

Five Met officers taken off duty after weapons find

Following the discovery of a bag filled with firearms and a Taser on a London street, five Metropolitan Police officers have been temporarily reassigned from their frontline roles. The bag was spotted by a member of the public on Tuesday evening, according to The Sun. The incident occurred outside the residence of London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan, prompting an investigation by the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards.

Authorities stated that the bag was likely misplaced by officers on duty shortly before it was found. The police confirmed that a civilian reported the bag at approximately 9:40pm, leading to a swift response. Officers arrived within minutes and safely retrieved the items, as per the force’s official statement. The department is currently examining the circumstances to address concerns raised by the incident.

Public’s Suspicion Leads to Discovery

A passerby noticed the bag on the roadside and became alerted to its presence. Jordan Griffiths, who shared the account with the Sun, recounted how he examined the bag’s contents and documented them before contacting the police. “When the officers arrived, they were clearly surprised. They inspected the bag thoroughly and quickly took the items,” he explained.

“It was noted that the bag had been left there by one of Sadiq Khan’s security officers, which aligned with the location,” Griffiths added.

Sir Sadiq’s spokesperson described the situation as significant, emphasizing the need for the Met to prevent similar occurrences in the future. “The Met must now take all necessary steps to ensure such an incident does not recur,” the statement read.

In 2017, Sir Sadiq had agreed to a 24-hour police protection plan, citing the risks to those around him as the reason for his decision. The recent event has reignited discussions about the security measures in place for high-profile figures in the city.