Blair police guard leaves loaded gun in toilet
Thursday, 04 Sep 2008 20:03
The officer was guarding former prime minister Tony Blair
A female police officer guarding former prime minister Tony Blair has been removed from duty after a loaded gun was left in a London cafe.
The Sun newspaper reported the female officer, in her 30s, left the Glock 17 pistol in a Starbucks toilet on Edgware Road last month.
The weapon was eventually found by a member of the public who contacted the police.
A Metropolitan police spokeswoman confirmed this morning that the loaded weapon had been abandoned and the officer in question had been removed from operational duties.
"A police-issue firearm was left unattended in a central London cafe. The weapon belongs to a Metropolitan police authorised firearm officer who was on duty at the time. An investigation has begun," she said.
"We have traced the officer concerned and the officer has been removed from operational duties pending the investigation."