A man who was walking down Edgware Road in North London with what appeared to be an assault rifle caused panic among shoppers and local residents. The incident occurred at 3:50 PM on Wednesday, and footage from security cameras shows the man walking calmly down Edgwarebury Lane.
Police and Eyewitness Reactions
Armed police quickly arrived at the scene, and although the weapon appears to be fake, eyewitnesses refrained from approaching it. One store employee described the man, saying: "He was walking confidently and without any concern, holding the gun." According to him, the man also appeared to be holding a magazine.
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The employee added: "This situation was very strange and frightening. People were looking for shelter, and at that time, in the middle of the day, this scene was a huge shock to residents and shoppers."
A Neighborhood with a Jewish Community
Edgwarebury Lane is known for its numerous shops owned by members of the Jewish community, including kosher supermarkets and the famous Grosse bakery. Another witness said: "The man was walking calmly, as if carrying a Kalashnikov or assault weapon in a busy street was normal. The sense of fear and insecurity among people was very evident."
The London Underground police stated that no arrests have been made so far, and searches for the man are ongoing. In a statement released, they said: "Officers are present in Edgware, and based on reports, we believe the weapon in question is a toy, according to what several eyewitnesses have told us."
The police statement also noted: "As soon as reports were received, a large number of forces were dispatched to the scene, and precautionary measures including the temporary lockdown of several nearby locations, including schools and synagogues, were implemented."
No reports of injuries have been made in this incident, and officials have advised the public to contact 101 if they have any further information or to call anonymously at 0800 555 111.
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