Major Gun Bust in East London as Police Storm Homes in Revenge Gang Crackdown
In a dramatic pre-dawn swoop on Wednesday, 3 March, more than 350 police officers from the Met, Essex, and Kent forces smashed 11 homes in a bid to snatch suspects linked to renting guns for brutal gang revenge attacks.
Operation Wordwell: Months of Planning Pay Off
Led by Detective Superintendent Paul Trevers, this massive crackdown targeted a violent criminal gang in East London. The Met’s East Area Gangs Unit launched Operation Wordwell back in September 2020 after a spike in shootings and stabbings in Barking.
“By connecting the dots between several violent incidents, we uncovered a gang planning deadly attacks using rented firearms,” said Det Supt Trevers. “Today’s arrests have stopped these criminals in their tracks.”
Four highly trained firearms recovery dogs supported the raids, while specialist officers from all three forces ensured safe execution of the warrants. Community watchdogs were even invited to witness the operation first-hand, showing police openness and commitment to fighting violent crime.
10 Arrested, Firearms Still Sought
Ten suspects aged 16 to 20 were cuffed for conspiracy to possess firearms with intent to endanger life and conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm. All are now held at an East London police station as searches continue for any hidden guns.
- Raids carried out at multiple addresses across Barking, Dovercourt, Harwich (Essex), and Canterbury (Kent)
- Teams included Met’s Taskforce, Specialist Crime Syndicates, and East Area BCU
- Essex Police Chief Inspector Darren Deex praised the joint effort: “This makes Essex safer, showing no tolerance for gun violence.”
Community At Centre of Crime-Fighting Efforts
Det Supt Trevers emphasised the importance of police accountability: “Communities demand answers. Inviting local advisors to observe our work helps build trust while we crack down on shooters and stabbers.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact police at 101 or tweet @MetCC. To stay anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
