Counter-terror police yesterday carried out armed raids in east London in a race to identify associates of the terror gang behind the London Bridge atrocity.
Specialist counter-terror officers swooped on two addresses in Dagenham and Newham in a military-style assault as part of what detectives called “a fast-moving operation.”
In Dagenham as a black helicopter hovered overhead, heavily armed officers stormed a building next to a tyre business on the busy westbound carriageway of the A13.
Residents reported hearing “loud flash bangs and gunshots” as armed officers burst through doors with stun grenades around 4.15am.
IT consultant James Bateman, 31, was awoken by explosions and said: “There had been 20 bangs, one massive one first. It seemed like they were using stun grenades. It was very shocking.”
Another witness said: “It sounded like something out of a war zone. There were police everywhere and a black helicopter hovering above. It was not a normal police helicopter, it seemed more military or special forces. “
The Met said a number of people had been “detained” and two properties were being searched but said no shots were fired. Police also raided an address on Caledon Road in Newham.
A neighbour called Sonia said police raided the house next door at 4am. She said she could hear shouts of “on the floor, on the floor, on the floor”.
“And after, people screaming scared, and boom boom boom,” she said, adding that she could hear an explosion and four or five gunshots. She believed the people who live in the house are Muslim, a family including two sons.
The whole family was taken away by police after about an hour, she said.
Scotland Yard chief Cressida Dick yesterday vowed police will “step up a gear” in the wake of the London Bridge attack, which left seven people dead and 48 injured.
She spoke of facing “what appears to be a change in threat” after the third major terror atrocity in Britain in the past three months.
Dick called for a review of the number of police officers, saying: “The threat seems to be changing so we need to look at our strategy, we need to look at our resourcing, we need to look at the techniques we’re using.”
Police began installing barriers on London bridges yesterday against further vehicle attacks and extra armed patrols were deployed across the capital. In her first interview after the terror attack, Theresa May revealed its heroes are set to be honoured for their bravery and dedication. “We are collecting the stories in at the moment,” she said.