IT could almost have been a sketch from a keystone cops movie or even Lesley Nielsen’s hit spoof crime comedy Police Squad.
For students making a film were confronted by armed police when they were mistaken for armed robbers in Co Derry.
It is reported that a nosy passer-by rang 999 on Wednesday evening after seeing a man in a balaclava and brandishing a gun in a Portstewart takeaway.
According to the PSNI, cops ordered the man to put down the gun only to discover that the robbers were budding Ulster University film makers and the weapon was a fake firearm.
The students’ union said the incident was an “unfortunate misunderstanding”.
The university has now launched a probe into the incident.
Local police boss Chief Inspector Catherine Magee said: “Officers approached and the man was ordered to put the weapon on the ground.
“It subsequently transpired that the scenario had been staged by some local students and the situation was quickly de-escalated.”
The PSNI has said it hopes to have an “informal chat” with some of the students involved later this week.
In a statement, Ulster University said: “We are aware of the incident in Portstewart yesterday and are working closely with the PSNI.
“The university plans to conduct a full investigation.”
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