Terrifying moment camo-clad man aims ‘assault rifle’ at London Underground train
A man has been arrested for causing alarm after someone was seen brandishing an imitation sniper rifle on a London tube platform in full combat gear.
The man – believed to be in his 20s – was filmed building and aiming the large weapon as trains arrived at the platform in Whitechapel Station along the Elizabeth line.
British Transport Police later confirmed the man was travelling to a film and comic convention when he was arrested on suspicion of possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear or violence and possession of an offensive weapon.
He has since been released on bail.
Footage showed nervous commuters moving away from the man as he knelt to assemble the weapon on the East London platform.
The individual was heading to MegaCon Live at the London ExCeL on January 25 when the incident occurred.
Social media users expressed shock at the scene, with one commenting: “Why is everyone so chill? Because if I’d seen that I wouldn’t know if it was real or not… I’d be out of there!”
Another wrote: “The problem is he isn’t at comic-con, he’s at an underground station. He’s also readying up as the train rolls into platform.”
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Ian Drummond-Smith, Assistant Chief Constable for Network Policing for British Transport Police, agreed with social media comments that such behaviour was “a sure fire way to get yourself arrested and potentially shot”.
The specialist firearms commander added: “High-jinx gone wrong here. Not an actual firearm. Male arrested at his home for imitation firearms offences. Items seized and he’s currently on bail.”
The force confirmed the man had been arrested at his home address following the incident.
British Transport Police’s Armed Policing Chief Inspector Martin Grayton said the force receive reports “every year around Comic Con” from people alarmed by weapons being carried on trains.
“We assess and respond to every call we receive about a weapon. A police response can cause disruption and alarm to passengers and, if it’s a prop, may mean that you’ve kept us away from more important incidents,” he said.
The force urged anyone travelling to dress-up events to keep their prop weapons concealed.
“For your sake and that of everyone else on your train, no matter how unrealistic you think they look, please keep your prop weapons out of sight while travelling,” Grayton added.