Ten people have been arrested after hundreds of police officers stormed 11 separate addresses as part of a "rent-a-gun" investigation.

The group - suspected to be members of a criminal gang - were apprehended after the warrants were carried out in Canterbury, London and Essex this morning.

In the early hours, firearms recovery dogs and more than 350 officers from the Metropolitan Police, Kent Police and Essex Police carried out 11 raids as part of a joint operation to arrest suspects involved in "renting" a firearm for use in revenge gang attacks.

A property in Rhodaus Town, on the Canterbury ring-road, was among those stormed by police.

Warrants were also carried out at nine properties in Barking, east London; along with one address in Harwich, Essex.

Det Supt Paul Trevers, who led the operation for the Met, said: "Following a number of violent incidents in east London, officers from the East Area Gangs Unit have meticulously pulled this operation together, which has taken months of hard work and dedication.

"This operation - Operation Wordwell - started in September 2020 following a number of shootings and stabbings in Barking, East London.

"By linking the offences, officers realised that one criminal gang were planning violent attacks on other individuals and by making these pre-planned arrests today, we have been able to thwart a criminal gang involved in the use of lethal firearms."

Under Operation Wordwell, officers secured evidence of the gang agreeing to split the cost of obtaining a firearm, and looking for potential victims.

A total of 10 people, aged between 16 and 20 years old have been arrested for offences including conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to endanger life and conspiracy to commit GBH with intent.

They have all been taken into custody at an east London police station.

Police continue to search the raided locations for any firearms.

Specialist firearms officers from the Met, as well as Essex and Kent Police, were used to carry out the warrants safely. They were supported by officers from the Met's Taskforce, Specialist Crime syndicates and East Area BCU.

Members of the local Independent Advisory Groups (IAGs) were also present at a specialist operations room to view the warrants taking place and to see what officers are doing to tackle violent crime in their neighbourhoods.

Det Supt Trevers added: "Communities rightfully hold their local police to account. They understandably want to know, understand and see what we are doing to tackle shootings, stabbings and other types of crime in the areas that they live and work.

"By inviting community representatives to see the operation unfold, it allowed me to show our professional commitment to suppress violence, whilst assuring communities of our accountability and transparency in what we do.

“This is another in the line of ongoing operations targeting violent offenders and I hope it goes some way in reassuring everyone that East Area BCU, with the support of MPS specialist officers as well as colleagues from other forces, continue to work tirelessly to stop the supply of guns, and associated criminality across London and into county forces."

Ch Insp Darren Deex, of Essex Police's operational policing command, said: “In working with the Metropolitan Police today, not only have we supported colleagues to make an arrest, we have helped make Essex that little bit safer.

“Our residents know that we will always take action to remove firearms and weapons off our streets and bring those who carry or use them to justice, and we take pride in knowing the community supports us in that aim. There is no place for such violence in our county.”

Anyone with information should call police on 101 or Tweet @MetCC. To remain 100% anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Any young people who have information about violence, firearms or knife crime, can visit Fearless where they can pass on information anonymously – your IP address will not be traced. Fearless is part of the Crimestoppers charity, and is also independent of the police.

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