In Toronto, police detained a man who came to a cosplayers' picnic in Trinity-Bellwoods Park dressed as a mercenary from the STALKER gaming universe. The reason for the detention was a replica of an assault rifle, which local residents perceived as a real firearm.
In Toronto, police detained a man who came to a cosplayers' picnic in Trinity-Bellwoods Park dressed as a mercenary from the STALKER gaming universe. The reason for the detention was a replica of an assault rifle, which local residents perceived as a real firearm.
The incident, which occurred on May 3 during the Anime Connects Cherry Blossom event, was reported by Dexerto.
According to eyewitnesses, a man in full tactical gear caused panic among park visitors. After receiving a call about an armed person, several police crews arrived at the scene with sirens on. In a video that went viral on social media, law enforcement officers forced the cosplayer to his knees, knocked him to the ground, and handcuffed him.
The event participant himself told the Toronto Sun that he has been cosplaying for over five years and has never had any problems with the law before. According to him, the toy weapons usually had bright orange tape (marking imitations), but he removed it for a photo shoot just before the police arrived.
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Police arrest a cosplayer at the first annual Anime Connects Cherry Blossom Picnic at Trinity Bellwoods Park.
The individual’s costume included a prop gun with allegedly 3D-printed parts.
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«There were other cosplayers with realistic weapons and gear, so it’s not unusual. There were other people there that day with similar props,» the man noted.
Despite park visitors allegedly warning the man of the possible consequences, the situation ended peacefully. After checking his credentials, the police released the detainee without charges.
The STALKER game series from the Ukrainian studio GSC Game World is quite recognizable and has a large fan base around the world. However, due to the full-scale aggression of Russia and the high level of tension in society, even in Western countries, law enforcement officers have begun to pay much more attention to people in tactical gear in public places.
«In our part of the world, this game is closely connected to our war. We, as a team, are also part of everything that is happening. For us, this project is a million times more than entertainment. This is a really important way to send a message to the world,» said Yevhen Grigorovich, CEO of GSC Game World.
