Armed police storm Holiday Inn after man combat gear is spotted on CCTV dropping handgun

Armed police storm Holiday Inn after man in beret and combat gear is spotted on CCTV dropping handgun on his way in

  • Armed officers stormed into Holiday Inn Express, in Stratford, east London
  • CCTV footage showed a man in combat gear drop a handgun near reception
  • A 35-year-old man detained and arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm

Armed police stormed into a hotel after a man in a beret and combat gear was spotted dropping a handgun as he entered the building.

Around 20 officers raced into the Holiday Inn Express, in Stratford, east London, clutching their automatic firearms, following reports of a man with a gun at around 8.35am on June 3.

Staff alerted the police after CCTV footage showed the man stop to pick up a weapon that had slipped out of his pocket as he made his way towards the reception area. 

Following the scenes, a 35-year-old man was detained and arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm. He was taken to a north London police station. 

Armed officers storm into the Holiday Inn Express, in Stratford, east London, after a man was spotted with a handgun

The man, who was seen wearing a beret and combat gear, drops the pistol as he enters the hotel

The man, who was seen wearing a beret and combat gear, drops the pistol as he enters the hotel

A witness at the hotel said the man had been smoking outside before entering the hotel lobby and dropping the gun on the floor. 

He then stopped to pick it up before putting it in his pocket and walking away.

The source told The Sun: ‘He grabbed it and put it away like it was nothing before walking away.’

They added: ‘The gun could have gone off at any point. What an earth was going through the man’s head? 

The man stops to pick up the weapon that has slipped out of his pocket before walking away

The man stops to pick up the weapon that has slipped out of his pocket before walking away

Officers raced to the scene following reports of a man with a gun at the Holiday Inn Express, in Stratford, east London

Officers raced to the scene following reports of a man with a gun at the Holiday Inn Express, in Stratford, east London

‘Reception checked the footage then called the police. There were so many armed officers. ‘     

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson told MailOnline: ‘Police were called at approximately 08.35hrs on Thursday, 3 June to reports of a man with a gun in a hotel in north east London. Officers attended.

‘A 35-year-old man was detained and arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm. He was taken to a north London police station.’