THIS is the shocking moment that sparked outrage as a plain-clothes police officer threatened to pepper spray commuters.
Captured at Stratford Station in London, the footage shows the man ready to use the illegal substance as he aims it directly at onlookers, ready to deploy with his thumb poised on the top of the canister.
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The British Transport Police (BTP) have confirmed that the man in the video was employed and actively working on an “anti-robbery operation” when he was filmed.
Many have flocked to social media to express their concern over the aggressive behaviour with the man ordering those nearby “you better back off now” and threatening them, “I’ll spray you”.
One user on X, formerly known as Twitter, posted the video questioning the intention of those videoed: “I didn’t think the BTP had those sorts of powers?”
Another user said: “Doubtful he is BTP, they wouldn’t act like that.”
Someone else commented: “I don’t live in London, and if I was confronted by this I genuinely would not believe this person was a police officer?
“Is It normal now for them to look so panicked and out of control? I would panic.”
A third said: “I’m finding it hard to believe he’s legit. If so then they’re scraping the barrel to recruit.”
Another wrote: “He did no wrong”.
Whilst others seem to be in support of the man’s work, believing that the current climate of the city warrants a need for such enforcement.
Someone commented: “You can’t blame officers being overcautious with the amount of stabbings happening in London. I can’t criticise.”
Another acknowledged the lack of context the footage allows viewers.
They said: “Without being there or seeing what happened before the tape started we can’t say.
“My guess is he was right. The situation was getting out of control and he had to stop it.”
In one part of the video, the armed man says that he is a “police officer”.
However, a member of the public was quick to respond: “You’re not a police office you’re a BTP.”
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When approached for comment, a spokesperson for BTP said: “We are aware of a video posted on social media showing part of an incident involving a plain-clothes British Transport Police officer outside Stratford railway station.
“On 15 September, officers deployed on an anti-robbery operation had stopped a person who was acting suspiciously.
“A small group of people became hostile towards the officers and began to obstruct the search.
“The man was then taken into the station where he could be searched safely.
“The footage has been shared with our Professional Standards Department for review.”
Figures show that Stratford underground station was the fifth busiest in the UK back in 2022.
Found in East London, the railway clocked up 44,136,784 passengers entering and leaving the station the year after.
It holds key links as it is a stop on the Elizabeth line and the London Overground.
