A squad of police officers swooped on a 16-year-old boy near Stamford Bridge after an imitation firearm sparked fears of a ‘mass shooter’ in the area.
The teenager was dramatically arrested in Fulham Broadway at around 2.40pm, shortly after Chelsea’s Premier League clash with west London rivals Fulham drew to a close.
Officers had received reports about a boy ‘displaying a weapon and walking towards a crowded area’.
Multiple posts on social media claimed there was a gunman in the area – including one on X, which had over 200k views within half an hour, saying: ‘An attempted mass shooter has been arrested near Stamford Bridge after the Chelsea game.
‘He was wearing a helmet, had a vest on, armed with a gun while carrying extra ammunition.’
But the Metropolitan Police dismissed these claims as untrue and believe he may have been on his way to a nearby comic convention. He remains in police custody.
Footage posted on social media shows a squad of police wrestling a teen on the floor.
Officers removed what looked to be a balaclava from the boys face and held him down, kneeling on his legs and back.
Officers removed what looked to be a balaclava from the boys face and held him down, kneeling on his legs and back
While police held the boy’s face to the ground they placed him in handcuffs outside a nearby tube station
The post on X, which had over 200k views within half an hour claimed: ‘An attempted mass shooter has been arrested near Stamford Bridge after the Chelsea game.’ Pictured: Police vans and forensic services at the scene
While police held the boy’s face to the ground they placed him in handcuffs outside a nearby tube station.
Other officers searched the suspect’s bag and maintained a cordon around the area as astonished Chelsea fans passed by.
The boy was then made to stand up and taken away. He was arrested on suspicion of possession of an imitation firearm.
Police and forensic vans were also situated at the scene.
The X user posted a follow up minutes later, claiming: ‘There is a possibility that the police have got it wrong as there is a comic-con going on in Hammersmith today, with the person they are arresting potentially dressing up like an.
‘Awaiting confirmation.’
A Met Police spokesperson said: ‘A 16-year-old boy remains in police custody after he was arrested by unarmed officers this afternoon on suspicion of possessing a realistic-looking imitation firearm in Fulham Broadway.
‘It was reported he was displaying a weapon and walking towards a crowded area. No one was injured.’
They added: ‘An investigation has begun into the circumstances, however one line of enquiry is that the boy was on his way to a comic convention.’
Other officers searched the suspect’s bag and maintained a cordon around the area as astonished Chelsea fans passed by
He was arrested on suspicion of possession of an imitation firearm in Fulham Broadway
It’s not clear which event he was on is way to but there was a London Anime and Gaming Convention held in west London today.
It is a three-day event for speculative fiction fans and is one of the biggest pop culture celebrations in the UK.
The incident unfolded just after Chelsea beat Fulham 2-0 to go top of the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.
