UK police SLAMMED over gun safety after Muslim officer pointed gun at colleague with finger on trigger—claims critics are 'hateful bigots'

The Metropolitan police commissioner is condemning “hateful bigots” for their criticism of a Muslim female officer who posed for a photo holding a rifle with her finger on the trigger while pointing it toward another person.

The controversy erupted after PC Fiona Shaik Umar was presented with the Outstanding Contribution to Women in Policing Award at the Police Federation annual conference on Wednesday. Umar has been praised for leading a project that introduced new uniform options for UK Muslim women officers who wear hijabs. She was the first hijab-wearing officer in her unit.

The recognition resurfaced a photograph she had posted in 2024 to mark International Women’s Day.

“In an organisation that has always been dominated by men it is truly inspiring to see women now moving up through the ranks and having equal opportunities to have a seat at the table,” Umar wrote in the post on LinkedIn. “Today on #internationalwomensday I got over my own feelings of imposter syndrome and filled in an expression of interest with #firearms because why shouldn't I count myself capable enough to do a role like that, why shouldn't I have confidence in my own skills and abilities.”

The accompanying photograph showed Umar wearing a hijab and holding a rifle in front of a banner reading “Women in Firearms Attachment.” While holding the firearm, she was “flagging” the man beside her, meaning the rifle was pointing in his direction with her finger on the trigger.

The image circulated widely on social media this week. Despite the majority of the backlash being centered on how Umar had failed to follow basic gun safety rules, Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley called the criticism unacceptable and bigoted.

“We are currently advertising for additional talented, brave Londoners from all communities to join us. Every career path is open to you regardless of whether you happen to wear a kippa, turban or hijab like Fiona. She is being celebrated for being an excellent officer demonstrating this reality," Rowley said in a statement.

“But it angers me that not for the first time, a day that should have been a celebration for Fiona was marred by hateful, intolerant abuse online,” he said. “These people haven't met Fiona. They know nothing of her important work. They just saw that she is a female Muslim officer who wears a hijab and decided she wasn't deserving as a result.”

“Policing is stronger when it draws talent from all the communities it serves. It fosters trust and also makes us more operationally effective and more able to keep people safe,” Rowley continued. “That's easy for me to say, of course, but it's much harder to do if you're a woman or someone from a minority background as sadly you will need more resilience and courage as a police officer than someone like me - an uncomfortable truth the Met is confronting head on as we support all officers when they face bigots with much to say but little to offer.”