You are in > manchester.com  > News > Flying squad foils £1m Asda raid

Business

Flying squad foils £1m Asda raid

23/01/2006

Armed police have foiled a raid on an Asda store in east London, recovering an estimated £1 million in cash.

Officers from Barking flying squad, along with a number of specialist firearms officers, were called to the supermarket in Ruckholt Road, Leyton, at 20:00 GMT yesterday evening after an intelligence tip-off about a planned raid.

Six men were arrested at the scene and were taken to separate police stations in east London. A seventh man was arrested late last night and is also being held pending further questioning.

Detective Superintendent Bob Cummings, head of the Metropolitan police's flying squad, believes that the foiling of the raid was a triumph of police intelligence.

"The arrests are the result of a long-term intelligence-led operation into a criminal network by the Barking flying squad, assisted by other [Metropolitan police] units," he said.

"The raid was meticulously planned on a superstore holding a substantial amount of cash. The degree of planning was highlighted by video equipment and walkie-talkies found at the scene.

"I would like to congratulate the investigation team on an extremely professional investigation and also thank the specialist firearms officers from CO19 [the Metropolitan police's firearms unit]."

Police have confirmed that a number of shots were discharged in order to disable a vehicle at the scene.

It is believed that the thieves gained access to the supermarket's cash store room, enabling them to emerge with such a substantial amount of money.

© Adfero Ltd