Five Met officers taken off duty after weapons find

Five Met Officers Temporarily Reassigned Following Weapons Discovery

A bag containing firearms and a Taser was found on a London street, prompting the Metropolitan Police to remove five officers from front-line duties. The discovery, made by a civilian on Tuesday evening, occurred outside the residence of London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan, as reported by The Sun.

The police stated that the bag was likely misplaced by officers on duty shortly before it was spotted by a member of the public. 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 the police after finding a bag with Met-issued firearms and a Taser on a south London street,” the force said. “Within seven minutes, officers arrived and safely retrieved the items.”

According to a passerby, Jordan Griffiths, he noticed the bag on the roadside and became suspicious. After inspecting its contents, he took photographs and called the authorities. “When the police arrived, they were clearly surprised. They examined the bag thoroughly and quickly took the items away,” he explained to the newspaper.

The individual noted that the bag appeared to be left by one of Sir Sadiq Khan’s security personnel, aligning with the mayor’s proximity to the scene. A spokesperson for Sir Sadiq emphasized the gravity of the event, stating, “The Met must now take all steps to ensure an incident like this never occurs again.”

In 2017, Sir Sadiq had agreed to a full-time police presence, including 24-hour protection, after concerns about the safety of those around him prompted a change in his decision.