TWO men were arrested on suspicion of firearms offences yesterday afternoon (26) in Hanwell.

At 1:30pm, armed police stopped a vehicle on the Uxbridge Road.

A 23-year-old was arrested and a firearm, believed to be an imitation, was seized.

A warrant was then executed for another man, aged, 26  at an address in Southall.
A CS gas canister and another firearm, also believed to be an imitation, were recovered from the address by police.

Shop worker Alina Spiridon described what happened.

“I thought there was a big fight, and that two cars had crashed," she said. "There were a lot of undercover police, around ten, with big guns – it was very scary.

"They handcuffed a man, and then another police car arrived with two other men who were handcuffed as well.

“People tell me it’s something to do with terrorism or drugs, but I don’t know if that’s true.”

Business owner Pip Peeri said: “There was a lot of shouting. I heard armed police say ‘get down’. I’d say there were seven or eight cars blocking the road.”

Mr Peeri believes operations such as this one do not happen enough in the area.

“I think too many people probably get away with this kind of thing around here all the time,” he said.

The incident meant the A4020 Uxbridge Road was sealed off in both directions at St George’s Road in the afternoon, causing disruption and affecting local bus routes. The cordon was lifted at around 3pm.

The operation was led by Trident detectives and was planned. Both men remain in custody at a London police station.