Armed police accompanied by helicopters descended on Harrow in the early hours of Tuesday morning after reports of a man seen with a suspected firearm.
Multiple members of Harrow Online Group on Facebook posted questions to other members wondering why armed police were in Headstone Gardens and helicopters were ‘hovering over their houses’ around the time of the incident.
A spokesperson for Met Police told Harrow Online: “At about 01:48hrs on Tuesday, 11 July patrolling officers witnessed a man with a suspected firearm interact with people in a car on Headstone Gardens, Harrow.
“The man was then seen to return to a nearby property.
“Local officers, supported by armed officers and National Police Air Service, attended.
“A 19-year-old man was arrested at a house on suspicion of possession of a firearm and taken to a north London police station.
“A suspected firearm was recovered from the premises and submitted for expert examination.
“The weapon was found to be a BB gun and the arrested man told officers he had been interacting with friends as a joke. He has been given guidance and released with no further action.”
