Police recover weapons arsenal

An arsenal of high-powered assault rifles and machine guns which could have found their way into the hands of London's most deadly criminals has been recovered by police, Scotland Yard said today.

The cache, understood to have been imported from Eastern Europe, contains three assault rifles including an AK47, an SLR - a gun formerly used by the British Army - and another assault rifle similar to an M16.

The weapons have been sent for examination by firearms experts. Four other machineguns, including a large Madsen, are believed to originate from the Second World War.

Police swooped on a flat on the Down's Park Estate in Stoke Newington as part of Operation Bantam - the Met's successful crackdown on gun and drugs crime.

Officers say some guns had been badly de-activated and parts of the older weapons could have been used to build other guns.

Dc Jason Robinson said: "Attempts have been made to deactivate the weapons, however there are many working parts which would enable parts of the weapons to be transferred to other guns and used again. This is an excellent seizure and shows our determination in taking guns off the streets."

A 36-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of possessing firearms and has been bailed until November while further inquiries are made.

Operation Bantam has targeted scores of London's most wanted gunmen. Rapid reaction police squads have arrested Jamaican Yardie and British gunmen for a range of offences from firearms to parking fines.