Police snipers on roofs along Queen’s funeral route as Met Police stage largest ever operation

“This will be the largest single policing event that the Met Police has undertaken,” said deputy assistant commissioner

Armed police officers stand on the roof of Buckingham Palace on September 18 (Getty Images)

Police snipers have been spotted on a roof in Westminster during Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral.

The Metropolitan Police had at least 10,000 officers patrolling the streets of the city for what is being regarded as the UK’s biggest ever security operation.

The gunmen were spotted on top of a building on Parliament Street, next to Westminster underground station as around two million mourners visited the capital for the state funeral.

As well as snipers, the Met enlisted armed police, motorbike escort riders, dog teams, marine units and helicopters as a part of their efforts to keep members of the public safe during the historic event.

Stuart Cundy, deputy assistant commissioner at the Metropolitan Police, said on Saturday: “This will be the largest single policing event that the Met Police has undertaken, larger than the 2012 Olympics, larger than the platinum jubilee weekend.

“Our contingency planning considers a whole range of scenarios including terror attacks, criminal activity and crowd surging,” he added.

Police officers patrol as members of the public gather outside of Buckingham Palace on September 18, 2022 (AFP via Getty Images)

Following backlash about anti-monarchy protesters being arrested, Mr Cundy said “we will only take action where it is absolutely necessary”.

Royal occasions often pose security risks, such as in 1981 when a 17-year-old man fired shots at the Queen.

Marcus Sarjeant fired six blank cartridges at the monarch as she rode past crowds on horseback during the Trooping the Colour ceremony in central London.

The Queen leans forward to reassure her horse after the incident in The Mall, London in 1981 (PA)

While the shots startled the Queen’s horse, she was able to bring it back under control within a few seconds and the man was apprehended.

He was later sentenced to three years in prison at HMP Grendon Underwood until 1982, when he was released aged 20.

Upon release, he changed his name and began a new life. He also wrote to the Queen to apologise for the incident but received no reply.