
Seven teenagers have been arrested and a loaded handgun seized by firearms officers in a city centre restaurant last night (Wednesday 13 July).
A fight broke out as officers attempted to search a bag belonging to a 17-year-old boy in the Bishopsgate Street restaurant at around 11:30pm. The bag was found to contain the loaded gun with a further six bullets. A search of the other six in the group revealed two knives and suspected Class B drugs.
All seven, aged between 15 and 19, were arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm and remain in custody today.
Detective Chief Inspector Sam Ridding, from the force’s Serious and Organised Crime Unit, said: "It is shocking to think that this group of young men were enjoying a meal in a family restaurant while holding a loaded gun.
"The penalties for carrying a loaded gun are severe and rightly so. We are determined to tackle this type of criminality and put offenders behind bars.
"The public are our eyes and ears and I would appeal to anyone with information about gun crime to contact us on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."