Five Met officers taken off duty after weapons find

Five Met Officers Removed from Duty Following Weapons Discovery

A London street revealed a bag filled with firearms and a Taser, prompting the Metropolitan Police to suspend five officers from frontline duties. The bag, found by a member of the public on Tuesday evening, was located outside the residence of London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan, according to The Sun.

The police force stated that the bag was likely misplaced by on-duty officers shortly before it was discovered. The Directorate of Professional Standards is currently examining the situation to determine its cause and implications.

“At around 9:40pm, a member of the public contacted authorities after spotting a bag containing Met-issued firearms and a Taser on a south London street,” the police said. “Officers arrived within seven minutes and safely retrieved the items. We are conducting an urgent review to address the concerns this incident has raised.”

A passerby, Jordan Griffiths, recounted the event to the Sun. He noted that after noticing the bag on the roadside, he alerted his partner and examined its contents. “I took photos of the items inside before calling the police, who arrived shortly after,” Griffiths explained. “They were visibly surprised and quickly removed the weapons from the scene.”

“He was informed the bag had been left there by one of Sir Sadiq’s security officers, which made sense given the location,” Griffiths added.

Sir Sadiq’s spokesperson described the incident as significant, emphasizing the need for the Met to implement measures to prevent similar occurrences. In 2017, he had agreed to a 24-hour police protection plan, citing the heightened risks to his surroundings as the reason for his decision.