What was meant to be just another day of cosplay turned into a frightening scene in West London.
A 16-year-old boy dressed as a Resident Evil character, complete with tactical gear and imitation weapons, was mistaken for a potential gunman and tackled by police.
Emergency Calls Flood In
The drama unfolded around 2:30 p.m. last Saturday, right as thousands of Chelsea and Fulham fans poured out of Stamford Bridge after a Premier League match.
Alarmed members of the public called 999 when they spotted the teenager, dressed head-to-toe in black military-style clothing, wearing a helmet, face mask, and what appeared to be a gun holstered at his side.
Police Step In Quickly
Met Police officers in the area didn’t take any chances.
Several officers rushed at the teen, pushing him to the ground near Fulham Broadway and swiftly securing his weapon.
What looked like a firearm was later confirmed to be a fake gun, and a second imitation rifle was discovered in his backpack.
A Resident Evil Cosplay Gone Wrong
Investigators later learned the boy was dressed as a character from Umbrella Corps, a spin-off of the Resident Evil franchise.
He was apparently on his way to a comic convention in Hammersmith.
But instead of bright-colored props, police found that the imitation weapons had been spray-painted black—making them appear dangerously real.
Panic in a Crowded Place
The timing couldn’t have been worse. With 40,000 football fans filling the streets and nearby tube stations, officers feared the worst.
Bodycam footage captured the tense moment as officers shouted, “Get on the floor!” before handcuffing the boy and confiscating his fake weapons.
Eyewitness Shock
Bystanders described seeing the teenager pinned down and restrained by at least four officers in the middle of the busy area.
To many, it looked like the start of a mass shooting scenario, until word spread that the guns were fake.
What the Police Had to Say
Inspector Rob McDonald, who oversaw match security that day, called the situation “extremely concerning” and praised the bravery of his officers.
“They acted without hesitation, putting public safety above their own,” he said.
Commander Adam Slonecki echoed that sentiment, adding that the officers’ courage was especially remarkable since they were unarmed and believed they were confronting a teenager carrying real weapons.
A Warning for Cosplayers
Police have since used the incident as a warning to anyone who takes part in cosplay involving weapons or tactical gear.
They stressed that dressing up in public with realistic-looking firearms is irresponsible and dangerous, especially in crowded places.
Costumes, they said, should be kept within organized and clearly safe environments like conventions.
The Teenager’s Fate
The 16-year-old was arrested on suspicion of possessing imitation firearms.
During questioning, he explained that he had only been headed to a comic convention.
He has since admitted to the offence and been referred to the Youth Offending Team for an out-of-court disposal.