Five Police Officers Removed from Duty After Security Breach at Mayor's Home
Five police officers have been taken off duty following a serious security incident where a bag containing firearms and ammunition was discovered outside the home of London Mayor Sadiq Khan. The Metropolitan Police confirmed the officers were removed from their posts as an urgent internal review was launched into the circumstances surrounding the breach.
Public Discovery of Firearms Outside Mayor's Residence
At approximately 9:40 p.m., a member of the public, Jordan Griffiths, found the bag on a street in south London near the mayor's residence. The bag contained an MP5 semi-automatic Heckler & Koch carbine, a Glock pistol, a Taser, and various rounds of ammunition. Griffiths immediately contacted the police, stating he took photographs as proof of the discovery.
'I could not believe my eyes and took some pictures as proof of what we had found,' Griffiths told The Sun. 'I called the police and told them what I had found and within a few minutes they turned up to collect the guns. When they arrived they were really shocked. They looked through the bag carefully and hurriedly took them away.'
Metropolitan Police Response and Investigation
The Metropolitan Police responded within seven minutes of the call, with officers arriving at the scene to safely recover the items. In a statement, the Met acknowledged the concern the incident may cause and confirmed that an internal review was immediately launched.
'At this stage it is believed the bag was misplaced by on-duty officers a short time before the member of the public located it,' the statement read. 'We are urgently reviewing the circumstances of this incident and recognise the concern it may cause.'
The firearms were identified as Met-issued equipment, reportedly left by armed officers assigned to protect the Mayor of London. The incident has been referred to the Met's Directorate of Professional Standards for further investigation.
Mayor's Office Expresses Serious Concern
A spokesperson for Mayor Sadiq Khan issued a statement emphasizing the gravity of the situation. 'This is a very serious incident, which has been referred to the Met's Directorate of Professional Standards,' the spokesperson said. 'The Met must now take all steps to ensure an incident like this never occurs again.'
The removal of the five officers from duty underscores the immediate action taken by the Metropolitan Police in response to the security lapse. The internal review will examine protocols and procedures to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
This incident highlights critical issues in police security operations and public safety, raising questions about the handling of firearms by on-duty officers. The Metropolitan Police's swift response to recover the weapons and initiate an investigation aims to address these concerns and restore public confidence.
