Met Guns Left Outside Sadiq Khan Home 2026

Key Points

• Five Metropolitan Police officers have been removed from front-line duties following the misplacement of a bag containing firearms and a Taser on a south London street.
• The bag was discovered by a member of the public on Tuesday evening outside London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan’s home.
• Contents of the bag included a sub-machine gun (specifically an MP5 semi-automatic Heckler & Koch carbine), a Glock pistol, a Taser, and ammunition, according to multiple reports.
• Officers arrived within seven minutes of the public call at around 21:40 BST and safely recovered the items.
• The Metropolitan Police’s Directorate of Professional Standards is reviewing the incident, believing it was misplaced by on-duty officers shortly before discovery.
• The officers were reportedly part of the protection detail for Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan.
• Jordan Griffiths, a scaffolder, and his girlfriend found the bag; Griffiths stated it was left by one of Khan’s security officers.
• A spokesperson for Sir Sadiq Khan called it a “very serious matter” referred to the Met’s Professional Standards.
• The Met acknowledged the concern caused and is urgently reviewing circumstances.

South London (South London News) April 4, 2026 – Five Metropolitan Police officers assigned to protect London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan have been stood down from front-line duties after leaving a bag of firearms and a Taser on a street outside his home, the force confirmed in an official statement. The incident, which unfolded on Tuesday evening, has prompted an internal review by the Directorate of Professional Standards amid public concern over armed officers’ handling of equipment. Reports indicate the bag was recovered swiftly, but questions linger about security protocols for high-profile protection details.

What Happened in the Incident?

The bag was found at approximately 21:40 BST by a member of the public on a street in south London, directly outside the residence of Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan.

As reported by journalists at The Sun, the discovery was made by the girlfriend of scaffolder Jordan Griffiths, who spotted the unattended holdall by the kerbside. Within seven minutes of the call to police, officers arrived, examined the contents, and safely secured the items, according to the Met’s statement.

Jordan Griffiths recounted his shock to The Sun, stating:

“I could not believe my eyes… I took some photos as proof of what we had found. I called the police and informed them of my discovery, and within a few minutes, they arrived to retrieve the firearms. When they got there, they were visibly shocked. They examined the bag thoroughly and quickly took the items away.”

Griffiths added:

“I was told they had been left there by one of Sadiq Khan’s security officers, which made sense as he lives here.”

A man who found the Met-issued firearms, as cited by Sky News, described discovering a handgun, submachine gun, and Taser inside the holdall.

What Was Inside the Bag?

Detailed reports from various outlets specify the alarming contents: an MP5 semi-automatic Heckler & Koch carbine sub-machine gun, a Glock pistol, a Taser, and various rounds of ammunition. The Independent detailed that the bag held

“an MP5 semi-automatic Heckler & Koch carbine, a Glock pistol, a Taser, and assorted rounds of ammunition.”

Similarly, the Mirror reported the inclusion of an MP5 semi-automatic Heckler & Koch carbine, Glock handgun, Taser, and ammunition, found around 9:30pm on Tuesday.

The Sun’s coverage, linking the incident to Khan’s security, noted the “shocking security blunder” involving these weapons left on the street. Manx Radio confirmed a Heckler & Koch submachine gun, Glock pistol, Taser, and ammunition were reportedly inside.

JOE.co.uk echoed that the bag discovered outside the mayor’s home contained a Heckler & Koch submachine gun, Glock pistol, Taser, and more ammunition. BBC News summarised it as containing a submachine gun, handgun, Taser, and ammunition.

Which Officers Were Involved?

Five Metropolitan Police officers have been removed from front-line duties pending the review, as announced by the force. While specific names have not been released, reports indicate they were on-duty armed officers, likely from the protection team for Sir Sadiq Khan. The Independent noted they were

“armed police officers assigned to protect London Mayor Sadiq Khan.”

Sky News and others confirmed the suspensions without naming individuals, emphasising the Directorate of Professional Standards’ involvement. The Met’s statement did not identify the officers but stressed the misplacement occurred

“a short time before the member of the public located it.”

No further details on prior disciplinary actions, such as mentions of officers “put behind bars last month,” appear in current reporting from these sources.

Were Any Officers Previously Disciplined?

Available reports do not detail prior imprisonments for these specific officers last month; the focus remains on this incident’s immediate aftermath. The Met has prioritised the ongoing review without referencing past convictions in public statements.

What Has the Metropolitan Police Said?

The Metropolitan Police issued a statement:

“At around 21:40 BST 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. We are urgently reviewing the circumstances of this incident and recognise the concern it may cause.”

It added:

“At this stage it is believed the bag was misplaced by on-duty officers a short time before the member of the public located it.”

A Mirror spokesperson quote mirrored:

“At approximately 21:40, a member of the public contacted us after discovering a bag containing police-issued firearms and a Taser in South London. Officers arrived within seven minutes to safely retrieve the items. We are currently conducting an urgent review of this incident and understand the anxiety it may provoke. Preliminary assessments suggest the bag was left by on-duty officers shortly before it was discovered.”

The Directorate of Professional Standards confirmed its review.

What Is the Directorate of Professional Standards Reviewing?

The Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards is examining the full circumstances, including how the bag was misplaced during active duties. This internal probe aims to address protocols for handling firearms in protection operations. Reports stress the urgency, given the location near a high-profile figure’s home.

How Has Sir Sadiq Khan Responded?

A representative for Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan stated:

“This is a very serious matter which has been referred to Met’s Professional Standards. The Met now take necessary measures to ensure that an incident of this nature does not happen again.”

No direct quote from Khan himself has been published in the sourced reports.

Why Was the Bag Left Outside Khan’s Home?

The proximity to Khan’s residence has fuelled speculation it related to his security detail, as Griffiths was told by police. The Sun reported it as armed cops “guarding London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan” committing the blunder.

However, the Met has not officially confirmed the officers’ exact assignment, focusing on the misplacement by “on-duty officers.”

What Are the Potential Implications?

This lapse raises questions on armed policing standards, especially for VIP protection in densely populated south London. The swift recovery mitigated immediate risks, but the public discovery underscores vulnerabilities. Ongoing reviews may lead to procedural changes, as hinted by Khan’s office.

When Did Similar Incidents Occur?

Current coverage does not reference recent comparable Met firearms losses, though general Taser and weapons policies exist in MPS documents. This appears isolated, with focus on prevention.