Metropolitan Police in guns blitz as officers target underworld armourers in dawn raids

At least 41 firearms including an Uzi submachine gun were seized
An Uzi submachine gun was among the weapons discovered
Met Police
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At least 41 firearms including an Uzi submachine gun have been seized and 24 arrested in a major blitz against underworld armourers.

Hundreds of Metropolitan Police officers were involved in a series of dawn raids across London and Essex over 12 days.

Police marksmen also carried out “hard stops” on suspects’ cars in covert operations launched to prevent gun crime surging again when Covid restrictions are eased.

Innocent student Alexander Kareem, 20, was one of eight people shot dead in London between June and August last year when the first lockdown lifted.

The Met said 14 of the 41 weapons discovered in the capital resulted from an ongoing joint investigation with Greater Manchester Police.

Thirteen of them were found on Thursday at a farm in suburban Waltham Abbey in collaboration with Essex colleagues.

Detective Chief Superintendent Craig Turner said police had created a “hostile environment” for anyone using, carrying or storing weapons for drug gangs.

He told the Standard: “In nearly 30 years’ service, I’ve never seen this amount of firearms being taken off the streets of London.

“It’s been a fantastic week for us and we need to keep on being relentless.”

A seized Turkish retay handgun
Met Police

The deactivated Uzi, once capable of firing up to 600 rounds a minute, a sawn-off pump action shotgun and a converted Retay Glock 17 self-loading pistol were among 27 firearms seized between February 7 and 14.

Police also recovered 430 rounds of ammunition, cocaine and six zombie knives.

Of 19 men arrested in Wembley and Westminster, nine have been charged with various offences.

At the farm in Waltham Abbey, a 62-year-old man was held on suspicion of possessing firearms. He remains in custody at a police station in Essex.

Four men, aged 23 to 46, were also detained early yesterday when police discovered a handgun during searches of two vehicles in Addison Way, Golders Green. They remain at an east London police station.

Met Specialist Crime detectives, the Violent Crime Taskforce and Specialist Firearms Command were among units involved.

Det Ch Supt Turner said officers utilised a range of tactics including warrants, stop and search and surveillance to tackle gun crime and gang activity in hotspots.

All firearms will now undergo forensic tests to see if they are linked to unsolved shootings and murders across Britain’s 43 police forces.

Mr Turner added: “This is pre-planning for when we come out of lockdown.

“Obviously, from what we saw last time there was a slight increase in gun crime.

“But we are working across the country and at borders to stop the flow of firearms into London, delivering a massive dent to organised criminals.

“Each of the weapons seized in the past week could have been used to inflict serious harm, and I am grateful for the hard work, proactivity and tenacity of officers in keeping Londoners safe.

“Tackling violent crime on the streets of London remains our absolute top priority.

“I would urge anyone with information about someone who may be carrying a weapon to contact police immediately whether in person or anonymously.”

Anyone with information should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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