‘Gunfire’ heard in Dagenham, East London, as armed cops detain several people during swoop on ‘terror suspects’
NEIGHBOURS have reported hearing gunfire in Dagenham this morning as heavily-armed cops detained several people during raids linked to Saturday night's London Bridge terror attack.
Photographs have since emerged of a person led away from the scene by police in Barking in the dawn raids around east London.
The person can be seen with their face covered by what appears to be a printed blanket.
It comes as dramatic pictures show heavily-armed cops getting out of an unmarked navy blue van at the side of the busy road as part of the police operations in Dagenham, Newham and Barking this morning.
The planned operation is directly linked to the London Bridge and Borough Market attack on Saturday night that saw three terrorists plough into pedestrians in a van before stabbing revellers at random.
James Bateman, who lives at the other side of the road of the Dagenham property flooded by police this morning, said: "At about 4am, after the large bang, I looked outside the window after being woken up and I saw about a dozen armed police officers going to and from an unmarked van."
He said they were wearing "full gear", adding: "The first bang was nothing like I'd heard before."
Mr Bateman said the bangs that followed were not as loud but sounded "the equivalent" of gunshots.
Officers were standing guard in front of the property, which is on a busy road.
A Met spokesperson said: "At around 04:15hrs on Monday, 5 June, officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command investigating the London Bridge terror attack entered two further addresses - one in Newham and another hours earlier in Barking.
"A number of people have been detained and are at present being spoken to.
"Searches are ongoing at both addresses."
Police refused to confirm if shots had been fired during the raid.
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Several people took to Twitter in the early hours of this morning to report the police activity in Dagenham.
Sharing a picture of heavily-armed cops, one user wrote: "New raids happening in Dagenham. Loud flash bangs and gunshots just off the A13".
WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR:
- ISIS has claimed responsibility after a van ploughed through pedestrians on London Bridge just after 10pm on Saturday
- Three jihadists wearing fake bomb vests began knifing bystanders and pub-goers
- Staff at one pub barricaded the doors as the attackers tried to storm the building before the three terrorists were shot dead
- At least seven victims were killed and 48 people were injured with 18 still critical
- Four cops including British Transport Police officer among those injured
- The first victim was named as Canadian national Christine Archibald, a charity worker from British Columbia
- Theresa May has confirmed the terror threat level will remain at 'severe' and said all three attackers have been identified
- Cops raid block of flats in Barking, East London, reportedly home to one of the attackers, and arrest 12 as well as sealing off East Ham flat
- Police and piece together the chaos
- The Met opened a casualty bureau for those concerned about family and friends. There are two numbers to call: 0800 096 1233 and 020 7158 0197
- All the main political parties aside from UKIP suspended campaigning but have since resumed it as Mrs May confirmed the election will go ahead
- One Love Manchester Concert goes ahead as youngsters refuse to let terrorists stop them attending
- Sick ISIS thugs celebrated attack and called for more atrocities
- London Bridge Underground and National Rail stations re-opened on Monday
- A minute’s silence nationwide on Tuesday at 11am and a vigil in Potters Fields Park in London at 6pm on Monday
- Gunfire heard in Dagenham as heavily-armed cops detain several people during raids linked to the attack
- Families have shared desperate appeals for information to find loved ones still missing after the atrocity with a nanny and Frenchman among those who vanished
Did you see the London Bridge terror attack, or know anyone involved? Please contact The Sun newsdesk on 020 7782 4100, text 07423720250 or email [email protected]
Did you see the London Bridge terror attack, or know anyone involved? Please contact The Sun newsdesk on 020 7782 4100, text 07423720250 or email [email protected]
Dean Wilson added: "Gunfire and explosions in #Dagenham? Helicopters are out too. Not the wake up I was expecting."
James Lodge said: "Dagenham, multiple gunshots fired and A13 closed two police running down the A13 eastbound..."
And another simply wrote: "Police helicopter and gunfire. Morning Dagenham."
The police operation comes just hours after gun cops stormed properties in Barking and arrested 12 people in connection with Saturday night's atrocity in the capital.
A total of seven people were killed in the shocking weekend attack with a further 48 injured - 21 of which are still "critically injured".
A 19-year-old and a 60-year-old woman were among the dozen to be arrested in the dawn raids.
One woman was arrested at the social housing flat belonging to one of the terrorists, known as Abz.
Shocked neighbours said the dead terrorist, pictured at the scene in an old Arsenal shirt, had lived in the block for around three years and was married with two children.