Armed police, a helicopter and dog unit were scrambled to tackle eight-year-old boy playing cops and robbers with a broken £10 toy gun

  • Kasim Ashraf, eight, was playing with his broken £10 toy gun on Friday afternoon 
  • Mother stunned when armed police and helicopter turned up to relative's home
  • Dorset Police quickly realised it was a false alarm after receiving 999 report 

By Katie French For Mailonline

Published: 12:16 GMT, 17 July 2017 | Updated: 18:39 GMT, 17 July 2017

Armed police, a helicopter and dog unit were scrambled to tackle an eight-year-old boy playing cops and robbers with a broken £10 toy gun.  

The full-scale operation was launched by police after a 999 call from a member of the public described a sighting of 'two males possibly in possession of firearms'.

Minutes later, a police van screeched to halt in the middle of the road as officers wielding guns jumped out as the helicopter roared overhead.

Armed police, a helicopter and dog unit were scrambled to tackle an eight-year-old boy playing cops and robbers with a broken £10 toy gun. Pictured above, Kasim Ashraf and his mother

Armed police, a helicopter and dog unit were scrambled to tackle an eight-year-old boy playing cops and robbers with a broken £10 toy gun. Pictured above, Kasim Ashraf and his mother

The full-scale operation was launched by police but when they arrived, they were met with little eight-year-old Kasim. Pictured above, an officer posed with the youngster afterwards 

The full-scale operation was launched by police but when they arrived, they were met with little eight-year-old Kasim. Pictured above, an officer posed with the youngster afterwards 

But when they were met with little Kasim Ashraf, eight, who was holding his child's toy gun, they quickly realised it was a false alarm. 

The bizarre incident happened in Bournemouth, Dorset on Friday afternoon while Kasim and his mother were visiting a relative.

The armed response team left the property but one officer stayed behind to make sure the family were okay. 

Mother Claire Hutchinson said: 'We saw the helicopter so we thought something was happening but next thing we know, there's cars outside the house and the dog van. The police officers jumped out of the van with guns.

Kasim was happily playing outside at the time of the incident with the broken item which made no noise

Kasim was happily playing outside at the time of the incident with the broken item which made no noise

'At first I thought I should get Kasim out of the way because I didn't know what was going on.'

Her young son had taken his 14.5inch long Combat Force Army Friction Toy Gun which is suitable for children aged three and above.

He was happily playing outside at the time of the incident with the broken item which made no noise.

Ms Hutchinson said: 'As the police officer said, "Have you been playing with a toy gun?" it just clicked who they were looking for.

'One of the officers stayed for a long time, answered a lot of questions and was really nice to Kasim, telling him they don't want him to stop playing cops and robbers.'

Kasim said: 'When the police all turned up with their guns I thought it was really cool.

'They showed me some of the stuff they use like his helmet, mask and what they use to knock the door down with.

'I really want to be a policeman now.'

It costs £800 an hour to fly the National Police Air Service helicopter and Dorset is among the first forces to introduce a drone unit as a cheaper alternative.

A Dorset Police spokesperson said: 'Dorset Police received a report of a sighting of two males possibly in possession of firearms in Purbeck Road in Bournemouth.

'Officers attended and a search of the area was carried out, with support from the NPAS helicopter, and it was established that the sighting related to two children playing with toy guns.

'The informant was spoken to and reassured. No further action was taken.' 

Ms Hutchinson said: 'As the police officer said, "Have you been playing with a toy gun?" it just clicked who they were looking for' 

Ms Hutchinson said: 'As the police officer said, "Have you been playing with a toy gun?" it just clicked who they were looking for'