Five Met Officers Suspended Following Weapon Discovery

A bag containing firearms and a Taser was found on a London street, leading to the temporary removal of five Metropolitan Police officers from their frontline roles, the force confirmed. The discovery, made by a member of the public on Tuesday evening, occurred outside the residence of London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan, as reported by The Sun.

According to the police, the bag was likely misplaced by officers shortly before it was spotted by a civilian. The Directorate of Professional Standards is currently investigating the incident to determine its full implications. The recovered items included a sub-machine gun, a pistol, and ammunition, along with a Taser.

“At approximately 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 police stated. “Officers arrived within seven minutes and safely retrieved the items.”

A passerby, who spoke to The Sun, described the event. Jordan Griffiths noted that after uncovering the bag’s contents, he photographed the items before alerting authorities. “When the police arrived, they appeared visibly surprised. They examined the bag meticulously and quickly took the weapons away,” he said.

“I was informed the bag had been left there by one of Sadiq Khan’s security officers, which aligns with the location,” Griffiths added.

A representative for Sir Sadiq emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating the incident requires immediate action to prevent recurrence. The mayor, who had previously agreed to 24-hour police protection in 2017, highlighted the need for improved protocols following the discovery.