A man has been arrested after police stopped a taxi and found guns and ammunition in a backpack in the boot of the car.  

Officers from the Met’s specialist crime unit stopped a taxi on the A4088, in Wembley, with support from specialist firearms colleagues at around 8pm on Thursday (April 13).

Police found a rucksack in the boot, inside which were five viable handguns and ammunition, Scotland Yard said.

These have all been seized for forensic examination.

A man aged in his 20s was arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm and ammunition and remains in custody in a west London police station.

No action was taken against the taxi driver.

Following the intelligence-led operation, Det Supt Victoria Sullivan, from the specialist crime unit, said: “I have no doubt that lives will have been saved as a result of our determination to remove these types of highly dangerous weapons from the streets; London, and Londoners, are that bit safer.

“Anyone concerned in illegal firearms activity can be assured that we will investigate and work to bring them to justice.”