Five Metropolitan Police officers have been taken off duty after a bag containing firearms was discovered outside the south London home of Mayor Sadiq Khan.
The bag, reportedly left by armed officers assigned to the mayor’s protection, contained an MP5 semi-automatic carbine, a Glock pistol, a Taser, and ammunition.
It was found by a member of the public, Jordan Griffiths, who alerted police after coming across the weapons. “I could not believe my eyes and took some pictures as proof of what we had found,” he said. “I called the police and told them what I had found and within a few minutes they turned up to collect the guns.” He added that officers appeared shocked upon arrival and quickly secured the items.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed the incident, stating: “At around 9.40pm, a member of the public called police after finding a bag containing Met-issued firearms and a Taser on a street in south London. Within seven minutes of the call to police, officers arrived at the scene and safely recovered the items.”
The force said it believes the bag was accidentally misplaced by on-duty officers shortly before it was found, and confirmed that an internal review has been launched. “We are urgently reviewing the circumstances of this incident and recognise the concern it may cause,” the statement added.
A spokesperson for the mayor described the situation as serious and said it has been referred to the Metropolitan Police’s Directorate of Professional Standards. “This is a very serious incident… The Met must now take all steps to ensure an incident like this never occurs again,” the spokesperson said.
The officers involved have been removed from duty while investigations continue.