Five workers dismissed after air rifle was fired at HS2 site

Five workers were removed from HS2 work after footage showed colleagues firing an air rifle inside a workshop at the West Ruislip construction site in London.

The video was recorded by Aminadab Enos de Souza Dias, a worker who also raised concerns about maintenance and safety.

He said the gun had been kept at the site and reported the incident to HS2 and its contractor in May 2025.

After he contacted Downing Street, Rail Minister Lord Hendy said one worker had been dismissed and four others permanently removed from HS2 work.

The gun’s owner said he had brought it in to repair during breaks and called that inappropriate.

British Transport Police investigated, but closed the probe after establishing that the suspected air rifle was no longer at the site.

The incident has renewed attention on safety at a major rail project whose costs and delays have grown; services to central London are not expected before 2040 at the earliest.