Sadiq Khan's security team has 'let everyone down', says man who found bag of firearms left outside mayor's home
Sir Sadiq Khan’s security team has “let everyone down”, the man who found a bag of firearms left outside the Mayor’s house has said.
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Police were called to Sadiq Khan's South London home on Tuesday evening after a member of the public found a bag containing Met-issued firearms and equipment.
The bag contained a Heckler & Koch A3 carbine submachine gun, a Glock handgun, a taser and ammunition belonging to the mayor's armed personal protection team.
Five officers have been temporarily suspended whilst the Met investigates.
Read more: Armed police left bag of guns outside Sadiq Khan's home
Now, speaking for the first time since the incident, the man who contacted the police about the firearms has said Sir Sadiq’s team has “let everyone down.
"I put [the bag] on the bed, opened the zip and the first thing I pulled out was the Taser," he told Sky News.
"I was like, 'oh my god'. Pulled out another one and it was a Glock [pistol].
"Opened up the big bit and the MP5 [submachine gun] was there. I was like, 'what am I going to do now? Am I going to go to prison for this?'. I didn't know what to do."
"Anyone could have picked it up, to be honest," he added.
"Lucky enough, I came outside and rang the police but anyone could have picked it up.
"There's loads of troublemakers around here. [The mayor's] security have let everyone down, really."
The mayor receives 24-hour armed protection after repeated threats to his safety.
The Metropolitan Police's Directorate of Professional Standards has confirmed it is reviewing the incident.
The Directorate said: "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.
"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 spokesperson for the mayor said: "This is a very serious incident, which has been referred to the Met's Directorate of Professional Standards.
"The Met must now take all steps to ensure an incident like this never occurs again," they added.