16 Year old Cosplayer Arrested in UK After Being Mistaken for a Criminal
A cosplayer was arrested in the UK after being mistaken for a criminal due to carrying a replica firearm. The 16-year-old was cosplaying Hunk, a mysterious character from Resident Evil, and was taken into custody even after officers confirmed the weapon was fake.
16 Year old Cosplayer Arrested in UK After Being Mistaken for a Criminal
Hunk is a masked, enigmatic character associated with the fictional Umbrella Corporation in Resident Evil. The cosplayer wore a jacket featuring the Umbrella logo and carried an MP5 replica with an orange tip — standard for cosplay props. Despite this, bystanders thought he was a real threat and called the police.
Upon arrival, officers tackled the cosplayer and took him into custody. A police spokesperson said:
“A 16-year-old boy remains in police custody after being arrested on suspicion of possessing an imitation firearm. The arrest occurred in Fulham Broadway after reports that a boy was displaying a weapon and walking toward a crowded area. No one was injured.” and it’s only e 16 year old boy.
Several stories about him spread across social media, saying he was a mass shooter and planning an attack, another that he was a “white supremacist” and the truth is that he is a 16-year-old boy who was going to a comic book event.
UK Laws on Replica Firearms
In the UK, it is illegal to possess an imitation firearm in public without lawful authority or a valid reason, such as historical reenactments, theatrical performances, or filmmaking. Additionally, anyone under 18 cannot own a fake gun intended to look real. The law defines an imitation firearm as:
“anything which has the appearance of being a firearm, whether or not it is capable of firing any shot, bullet, or other missile.”
Even BB guns can be legal depending on their power, but realism is a key factor. In this case, if the orange-tipped MP5 is considered too realistic, charges could be filed against the cosplayer.
We have another news about a cosplayer arrested.
via Standard UK