A man who was shot dead by officers in southeast London on Tuesday had been threatening people with a crossbow, said Scotland Yard.
The man, thought to be in his 30s, also reportedly had a knife, a sword and a hatchet, and was threatening to harm residents inside an address in Southwark. Although he was wearing body armour, he died at the scene.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct has launched an investigation following the man's death, which is standard practice after a fatal police shooting, noted Sky News.
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In 2010, Stephen Griffiths, who called himself the "Crossbow Cannibal", was sentenced to life in prison after he admitted murdering three women in Bradford. Another infamous case came in 2018 when, armed with two crossbows, Ramanodge Unmathallegadoo shot and killed his estranged heavily pregnant wife in east London.
On Christmas Day 2021, a man arrived at Windsor Castle armed with a crossbow and threatened to kill the Queen. Following the incident, Priti Patel, then the home secretary, launched a review to consider "strengthening controls" over the purchase of these weapons.
The possession of crossbows by adults is not prohibited and crossbow owners don't have to register them, said Insight, but it's an offence for anyone aged under 18 to buy or possess one.
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