Eight guns and ammunition haul seized in south London during dawn police raid
The Metropolitan Police found the weapons at a location in Abbey Wood as part of their ongoing investigation known as Operation Viper.
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Eight guns and a “significant haul” of ammunition have been seized by police during a dawn raid in south-east London.
The Metropolitan Police recovered six handguns, a shotgun and a slam gun at a location in Abbey Wood during the early hours of Wednesday morning as part of an ongoing investigation known as Operation Viper.
Officers also found an assortment of ammunition at the location, as well as in a nearby woodland.
Operation Viper is being led by detectives who specialise in firearms intelligence, and they were joined on the raid by colleagues from units including the Territorial Support Group and Firearms Command.
![Firearm seized by Metropolitan Police officers during a dawn raid at a location in Abbey Wood on Wednesday (Metropolitan Police)](http://content.assets.pressassociation.io/2022/12/23184635/14d55329-b1b4-4351-9af6-1481c795f586.jpg)
Detective Chief Inspector Gavin Collins, from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command, said the search was part of the force’s efforts to tackle violent crime.
He said: “This operation has removed a significant number of deadly firearms from circulation, preventing any number of potentially dire outcomes.
“Violent crime has a devastating and lasting impact on victims and the wider community, which is why officers are working day in, day out to dismantle organised criminal gangs facilitating the importation, manufacture and transportation of firearms around the UK.
“I would like to thank the local community for their patience, understanding and assistance during this operation.
“I don’t underestimate the impact such activity has on those living nearby.
![Ammunition seized by police during a dawn raid in south-east London](http://image.assets.pressassociation.io/v2/image/production/114f702a9ad13d69d9803960842d2396Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNjcxOTA5MzIz/2.70364918.jpg?w=640)
Mr Collins added that communities can help police tackle gun crime by providing information on people they believe to be involved, and on where firearms are being stored.