MP mugged by gang who snatched mobile phone

Labour MP Chris Webb has described being mugged in London by a gang who stole his mobile phone.
Writing on X, the member for Blackpool South said he was attacked as he returned from parliament along Lambeth Walk to his flat in the capital at about 22:00 GMT on Monday night.
The Labour MP said that while he is ânot an easy targetâ as a âbig guyâ of 6ft 2in, a âstealthyâ group on bikes clad in balaclavas managed to catch him off-guard.
âLuckily I have no injuries and I am ok,â he said.
âI was walking to the shop,â Mr Webb said.
âI was on the phone to my wife. I then literally said I think I jinxed myself, that I better get off my phone. I donât know this area and itâs a bit dark.
âGot to the shop, said that and, as Iâm walking away, went to reach into my pocket to get my phone to phone my wife back, and thatâs when they grab me.
âThey grab my arm to stop me and then off they went,â he said.

The gang made a quick getaway on their bikes, he added.
Webb said he then locked his iPhone using his smartwatch and when police came, he helped them to track the phone to a location where a suspect was caught with a bag of phones and arrested.
However, the MPâs phone was not recovered.
He added: âI wasnât on the phone at the time and I didnât hear them, which is remarkable in itself, of how stealthy they are, because these are on bikes,â he added.
âSo the fact that, you know, and Iâm normally pretty aware of my surroundings, Iâve got pretty decent reflexes and things like that from training and boxing training.
âAnd Iâm just surprised, because if I grabbed hold of one of them, they would have gone flying on the bike, because I wouldnât have let go. So Iâm kind of surprised how they managed to get so close to me without me realising.â
Quick getaway
He said his first instinct was to chase the group but he quickly realised he should instead get the phone tracked and locked and call the police.
âI donât think I was targeted as an MP,â he continued.
âWhile I was in a suit and shirt and tie, they would not have known I was a member of parliament.â
He said the police went âabove and beyondâ to help him.
The Metropolitan Police said officers were called at 21:55 GMT on Monday.
âThe victim was approached by a group of men who stole his phone from his hand. Inquiries remain ongoing,â the force said.
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