Hundreds of police officers in London are laying down their arms in protest over a colleague who was charged with murder.

According to reports, more than 300 officers are refusing to carry firearms after their unidentified colleague was charged with murder in the fatal shooting of a 24-year-old unarmed Black man, Chris Kaba.

Chief Detective magazine learned that such a charge against a police officer is extremely rare in England. The number of protesting officers represents about 10% of the armed police in London.

The officers’ move reportedly prompted Scotland Yard to ask the Ministry of Defense for help with counter-terrorism policing. The MoD would provide London with soldiers who would do specific tasks, but not routine police work.

Only about one in ten police officers in London carries a weapon, after undergoing intensive training.

The protest follows the appearance in court last week of a London firearms officer, named only as NX121, who has been charged over the death of Kaba in September 2022.

Kaba was shot by a single bullet as he was driving his car in the Streatham area of south London. He was unarmed at the time of the incident. He died hours after he was shot.

The case renewed allegations of institutional racism within the Met.

The trial of the officer who reportedly killed Kaba is expected to begin next year.

Kaba’s family welcomed the murder charge against the officer, who was granted conditional bail and is expected to stand trial next year.

Meanwhile, the unusual protest has prompted Home Secretary Suella Braverman to support the police stressing that firearms officers must make “split-second decisions” and “mustn’t fear ending up in the dock for carrying out their duties.”