Police have launched an investigation after a man was seen stalking a Jewish area in north London with what appeared to be an ‘assault rifle’, leaving terrified shoppers running for cover.
The suspect was caught on CCTV brazenly walking through a street in Edgware brandishing the weapon, now believed to be fake.
Armed police were called to the scene and though they do not believe the gun is real, witnesses told Metro it was not possible to tell and that they thought the rifle was real.
The ‘gunman’ was caught on CCTV on Edgwarebury Lane, close to Edgware Underground station, at 3.50pm on Wednesday.
The street is lined with shops run by members of the Jewish community, including a kosher supermarket and the well-known Grodz bakery.
Lucasz, a shop worker, told Metro: ‘[The man] was walking down the street just bowling along with the gun in his hand.
‘When I saw him he also had [what looked like] a magazine for bullets in his hand.
‘He did not say anything and was just walking confidently, not quickly or anything it was very strange.
‘The gun looked like it may have been plastic but you can’t tell at a distance and I wasn’t going any closer to get a look. People were looking for cover it was the middle of the day.’
He added: ‘About 15 minutes later the police were here, a lot of them. It was really scary. There are a lot of Jewish businesses around here and obviously at this time we are worried about security.’
Another witness said: ‘The guy was just walking along as if it was normal to carry a Kalashnikov or assault rifle along a busy shopping street in the middle of the day.
‘People ran for cover; you can never be sure if the gun is real. There is a synagogue near here and lots of Jewish businesses.
Latest London news
- You can now snap up £12 train tickets from London to ‘vibrant’ UK city
- Putney Pusher suspect found dead after being released under investigation
- Buckingham Palace’s hidden treasures uncovered by workmen
To get the latest news from the capital, visit Metro’s London news hub.
‘We are on high alert. The guy didn’t interact with anyone, but it was so intimidating.’
The Met Police said no arrests had been made and the hunt for the suspect is ongoing.
A statement said: ‘Officers are in Edgware following reports of a man seen with a firearm, which we believe to be a toy based on what several eyewitnesses have told us.
‘At 3.50pm on Wednesday, 16 September, police were called to a residential area in Edgwarebury Lane, following the reports. Members of the public described the man as having an item with a broken handle and which made toy noises.
‘A significant number of local officers attended alongside armed officers and a drone deployment to deal with the incident and search the area. So far, the man has not been found, and there have been no arrests.
‘There have been no reports of anyone injured. A number of nearby venues – including schools and synagogues – were temporarily locked down for a short period of time as a precaution.’
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or to remain anonymous Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.