Met Police Officers Leave Bag of Guns Outside Sadiq Khan's Home in South London
In a shocking security lapse, armed police officers tasked with protecting London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan left a bag of firearms outside his residence, which was later discovered by a member of the public. The incident, which occurred on Tuesday evening in south London, has prompted an urgent internal review by the Metropolitan Police's Directorate of Professional Standards.
Discovery by a Member of the Public
Scaffolder Jordan Griffiths reported to The Sun that his girlfriend found the bag sitting by the kerbside on a road in the area. Upon inspection, the bag contained an MP5 semi-automatic Heckler & Koch carbine, a Glock pistol, a Taser, and ammunition. Mr Griffiths expressed his disbelief, stating, "I could not believe my eyes and took some pictures as proof of what we had found." He immediately called the police, who arrived within minutes to recover the items.
Police Response and Investigation
The Metropolitan Police confirmed in a statement that the call was received at around 9:40 p.m., and officers arrived at the scene within seven minutes to safely retrieve the firearms. The force acknowledged the seriousness of the incident, noting, "We are urgently reviewing the circumstances of this incident and recognise the concern it may cause." It is believed that the bag was misplaced by on-duty officers shortly before being found by the public.
As a result of the breach, five officers have been removed from frontline duties pending the outcome of the investigation. The Met has launched an internal review to determine how such a critical error occurred and to prevent future occurrences.
Reaction from Sadiq Khan's Office
A spokesperson for Mayor Sadiq Khan described the incident as "a very serious incident" and confirmed that it has been referred to the Met's Directorate of Professional Standards. The spokesperson emphasized, "The Met must now take all steps to ensure an incident like this never occurs again." This event has raised significant concerns about the security protocols in place for high-profile public figures in London.
The incident underscores ongoing challenges in police operations and highlights the need for stringent safety measures to protect both officials and the public from potential risks associated with misplaced firearms.
