Police issue statement after teenager arrested near Stamford Bridge over imitation firearm

A 16-year-old was arrested near Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon after police received reports about a boy "displaying a weapon and walking towards a crowded area".

In the immediate aftermath of Chelsea's Premier League clash against Fulham, a 36-second clip of a teenager being tackled to the ground sparked fears of a serious incident in the Fulham Broadway area.

Officers could be seen placing the boy in handcuffs, and posts on the social media platform X wrongly claimed there was "an attempted mass shooter" who had been apprehended by police.

It was later confirmed that the boy was arrested on suspicion of possession of an imitation firearm.

"A 16-year-old boy remains in police custody after he was arrested on suspicion of possession of an imitation firearm," a Metropolitan Police spokesperson said.

“The arrest occurred in Fulham Broadway at 14:41hrs on Saturday, 30 August after officers received information about a boy displaying a weapon and walking towards a crowded area. No one was injured in the incident.”

The boy was tackled to the ground by police. Image credit: The Sun

It is an offence to carry an imitation firearm without a reasonable excuse, according to the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006.

The teenager was arrested at around 14:40 BST and was believed to be on his way to a comic book convention. The London Anime and Gaming Con is currently taking place.

Speaking to talkSPORT after witnessing the scene, former England international Stuart Pearce gave his account of the events outside Stamford Bridge.

"I left the Chelsea Fulham game, walked down Fulham Palace Road, just got opposite Fulham Broadway station and as I got there there was a bit of commotion around the place," he said.

"There was about four or five police constables all on top of somebody face down. And I just saw one of the police officers just kick a gun away from the person who was pinned down.

"It looked like a Glock. It looked very, very realistic, so it was no surprise to me that the police acted upon it. But obviously it just happened slightly before I'd got there."