A man has been arrested after allegedly carrying a fake sniper rifle at an Elizabeth line station.
A viral video shows a man dressed in a camouflage outfit appearing to build a toy gun at Whitechapel station last Saturday before pointing it towards a train as passengers watch on.
The British Transport Police (BTP) quickly confirmed on Wednesday they believed the video circulating online showed “a man with an imitation gun” who was attending a Comic Con event in costume.
This is wild and very dangerous.
— Mukhtar (@I_amMukhtar) January 28, 2025
I remember officers shot an innocent Brazilian man after the 7th July bombings.
it is also illegal to have an airsoft gun in public without a reasonable excuse. pic.twitter.com/6kTRJpla2a
The force later told the Newham Recorder that a man in his 20s from south London had been arrested on suspicion of one count of possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear or violence and one count of possession of an offensive weapon.
The BTP has warmed it receives calls from alarmed commuters each year around Comic Con and if they have to attend an incident where a weapon turns out to be a prop they can be kept from more serious cases.
BTP armed policing chief inspector Martin Grayton said: "Every year around Comic Con, we receive reports from people who have been alarmed by weapons being carried on the train.
“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.
“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."
