One of Tony Blair's cop guards is facing disciplinary action - for firing his gun after a colleague broke wind. Keith Hooper said he accidentally pulled the trigger of his Glock 9mm semi-automatic pistol as he tried to flee the niff. The bullet narrowly missed two officers standing nearby at the armory of the Metropolitan Police's elite diplomatic protection group near London's Trafalgar Square. PC Hooper had gone into a side room to unload his weapon as he was clocking off from duty.
A source said: "As he was about to discharge the bullets from his gun another officer loudly broke wind. Hooper said he was overcome by the foul smell and had to leave. As he went back to the main armory area he put his hand to his nose and accidentally pulled the trigger. The bullet ended up a foot away from where two colleagues were standing and one made a complaint. People found it hard to keep a straight face when they heard his excuse. And since then there have been a lot of jokes about bobbies letting one off."
The source added, "In fairness, the Glocks are notoriously sensitive to handle. PC Hooper insists the smell in the room was so bad that he temporarily lost control of his own senses." Hooper, who also guards the Royals, has been banned from gun duty while cops probe Saturday's incident.
A Scotland Yard spokesman confirmed; "As a matter of routine the officer concerned has been taken off firearms duties pending the outcome of the investigation. He has not been suspended. We are not prepared to comment further."
A Met source said: "Top brass are somewhat cynical about PC Hooper's explanation, although they accept he is a dedicated and experienced officer with a good record. He has a nose for the security side of the job - if not for anything else. It was totally out of character for him to do this."
Written by Mike Sullivan, Crime Reporter, The Sun