Massive raid on Yardies

A suspected Yardie gangster was arrested today in a massive police operation against the criminals behind a shocking rise in gun crime.

The man was detained - in possession of five pistols and a large quantity of cocaine - by armed police in dawn raids.

More than 500 police raided 25 addresses in Islington in a "preemptive-strike" to stop a wave of shootings in the north London borough.

Police also targeted a member of the notorious Adams crime family, whose power base is in Islington. But they failed to arrest the man at his home this morning.

Today's raids were planned by an elite Scotland Yard unit which identifies emerging crime problems across the capital.

In the first operation of its kind in London, police targeted major figures behind the crack cocaine trade in Islington, which has seen shootings rise by more than 40 per cent this year. Three of the shootings proved fatal.

Meanwhile, in a two-week blitz on street crime, Scotland Yard has made more than 1,000 arrests across London.

Mounted police, dog handlers and helicopter patrols were used to target muggers. Commander John Yates said: "I am extremely pleased with the results."