The moment a man was arrested by armed police was caught on video

The moment a man was arrested by armed police was caught on video (Picture: Triangle News)

Eye witnesses have described the moment a man in a taxi was shot and killed by armed police in Kensington.


Officers opened fire close to the home of Prince William and Kate after shouting at a man ‘for about ten seconds to get out’ of the black cab.


A witness, who has not been named, told the Sun that police shot at the man three times in the car.


He said: ‘He was shot in the car, then police handcuffed him and searched him at the same time.




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‘He was bleeding from his mouth and it looked like he was struggling to breathe. He was in the back of the cab, as a passenger.’


Officers received reports that a man with a firearm had been seen in a bank and bookmakers near Marloes Road in Kensington before the shooting on Saturday, the Metropolitan Police said.


Another witness, who was also not named, told the Mirror he was driving past the area in Kensington Road on Saturday when he saw the incident unfold and the man being dragged out of the Mercedes taxi.


He said: ‘I was driving past when I saw the police cut up a black cab, so I did a U-turn and as I got out of the car I saw the police fire two shots and another shot after three or four seconds.




Police at the scene near Kensington High Street in London, where a man died after sustaining gunshot wounds in an incident involving armed officers close to Kensington Palace. Picture date: Saturday December 11, 2021. PA Photo. The Metropolitan Police said offices were called to reports of a man with a firearm seen to enter a bank and bookmakers in Marloes Road, west London, at 3.04pm on Saturday. See PA story POLICE Kensington. Photo credit should read: Aaron Chown/PA Wire

Witnesses said they saw police drag a man out of a taxi (Picture: PA)

‘I was standing around 20 metres away. I saw them drag him out of the black cab. They handcuffed him while he was on the floor. He was struggling at the start, but they had him under control.


‘By then they realised he couldn’t breathe or was struggling for his breath, so they quickly started first aid and CPR.’


A non-police issue firearm has been recovered from the scene and the Independent Office for Police Conduct has launched an investigation into what happened during the incident.


Another man said he heard police shouting before opening fire on the vehicle.




A taxi and a police tent erected in the middle of a cordon in Kensington High Street, London, where a man died after sustaining gunshot wounds in an incident involving armed officers close to Kensington Palace. Picture date: Saturday December 11, 2021. PA Photo. The Metropolitan Police said offices were called to reports of a man with a firearm seen to enter a bank and bookmakers in Marloes Road, west London, at 3.04pm on Saturday. See PA story POLICE Kensington. Photo credit should read: Aaron Chown/PA Wire

The incident happened close to Kensington Palace – where Prince William and Kate live (Picture: PA)

Alexis, who did not want to give his last name, told the BBC: ‘They shouted “Police” and then they shot twice at the (Mercedes). There were two quick shots in succession.’


Alexis said he ran from the scene as he was worried the van ‘might explode’ and heard a third shot as he did so.


In a statement on Sunday, the IOPC said: ‘At around 3.19pm yesterday afternoon (Saturday 12 December), police responded to reports of a man with a firearm on Marloes Road, W8.


‘The man was seen to enter a car and armed police stopped the vehicle at the junction of Kensington Road and Palace Gate.


‘Shots were fired and a man sustained gunshot wounds. The London Ambulance Service and London Air Ambulance were called but, despite the best efforts of the emergency services, he was pronounced dead at the scene.


‘After being notified of the incident by the MPS (Metropolitan Police Service), we sent investigators to the scene and the post-incident procedure to start gathering evidence.


‘What appears to be a non-police issue firearm has been recovered from the scene. Our thoughts are with everyone affected.’


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