The major police operation in Hanwell on Thursday resulted in two arrests for firearms offences, police have confirmed today.

Armed officers stopped a vehicle in Uxbridge Road at about 1.30pm. A 23-year-old man was ordered get out before a firearm, believed to be imitation, was recovered from his car.

Soon afterwards, police carried out a warrant at an address in Southall. A 26-year-old man was arrested. A CS gas canister and a further firearm, also believed to be an imitation, were recovered from the address.

A spokesman for the Met said that the operation by Trident detectives, supported by officers from the SCO19 Firearms Unit, was pre-planned and intelligence-led. Both men were held in custody at a London police station. At the same time in the nearby Barchester Close estate, plain clothes officers were out in force while a sniffer dog was deployed.

The A4020 Uxbridge Road was sealed off in both directions at St Georges Road yesterday, causing traffic disruption and affect the 83, 207, 427, 607, E3 and E8 bus routes. The cordon was lifted at around 3pm.

A number of shops in Hanwell were at the epicentre of the incident.

Jaz Singh works at Paul Golf Audiovisual and Domestic Appliance store, which was directly opposite the scene. He said: I was just in the store when I suddenly heard someone shouting armed police, down on the ground.
The first thing I thought was that there was yet more trouble in the middle of Hanwell. People are always having punch-ups, but it was a shock when I saw police carrying guns.

Tony Chrysfis of Tonys hairdressers in Uxbridge Road said: I was very shocked when I heard what had happened. You dont expect this sort of thing to happen in Hanwell but then again it could happen anywhere.

Gary Mills of Hanwells, a Rolls Royce and Bentley car dealership in Uxbridge Road, directly opposite the scene of the incident said: Out of nowhere we heard a lot of shouting and saw police officers carrying guns. We realised there was some sort of incident but it wasnt very clear what was going on.