WATCH: Unarmed Met officers tackle suspect believed to be carrying guns outside busy football match

Video footage has been released showing the moment unarmed officers bravely tackled a suspect they believed to be armed in a busy crowd outside a football match.

Shortly after 14:30hrs on Saturday, 30 August, 999 calls were received from members of the public who had seen someone walking in the vicinity of Fulham Broadway station wearing military-style tactical clothing, a helmet and what appeared to be a handgun in a holster. The individual was also reported to be carrying a case on his back of the sort used to transport longer weapons.

The area was very busy at the time with crowds leaving nearby Stamford Bridge where a match between Chelsea and Fulham had just finished. While the callers could not be sure the weapons were real, they were concerned enough to ring 999.

Armed officers were dispatched but given the potential risk, unarmed officers who were on duty policing the match also responded. Seeing the suspect walking towards the busy crowds and the nearby station, they intervened to tackle him to the floor, securing what appeared to be a handgun from the holster on his leg and a rifle from the bag he was wearing on his back.

The weapons were quickly confirmed to be imitations, but it later emerged that while they had been brightly coloured when first bought, they had since been sprayed black to make them look more realistic.

The individual carrying them, a 16-year-old boy, was arrested on suspicion of being in possession of imitation firearms and was taken into custody. He later explained in interview that he had been attending a nearby comic convention that weekend and was in costume.

Inspector Rob McDonald, Match Commander for the fixture between Chelsea and Fulham, said: “This was a highly unusual and extremely concerning incident which occurred at the worst possible time. The match had not long finished and 40,000 spectators were leaving the stadium when information was received about a person dressed in black tactical clothing, wearing a ballistic helmet and carrying firearms heading towards a major transport hub.

“The unarmed officers who spotted the suspect acted spontaneously and with incredible bravery. They tackled him to the ground to secure the firearms without thought for their own personal safety, only that of tens of thousands of football fans in the immediate area.

“This incident highlights the bravery and selflessness of our police officers who come to work every day to keep the public safe.”

Commander Adam Slonecki, who was the in charge of policing across London on the day of the incident, said: “These officers demonstrated quick thinking and truly impressive bravery in the way they responded to this incident.

“While they believed the suspect was potentially armed with multiple weapons, they were all unarmed. They put the safety of the public above any concerns for their own and in doing so did themselves and the Met proud.

“I hope this incident also serves as a reminder to those who may be engaged in ‘cosplay’ or in any other activity that involves dressing up as characters where weapons or armour are involved. Such activity should ideally take place in organised environments where it is obvious to everyone what is going on.

“Wandering around in public, particularly in crowded places, while carrying these items is irresponsible. While those taking part may know their weapons aren’t real, the public do not and nor do our officers.”

The teenager who was arrested admitted the offence of possession of imitation firearms in interview and has since been referred to the Youth Offending Team for consideration of an appropriate out of court disposal.