Ipswich: Met Police’s armed kidnap unit officers in covert operation in St George’s Street

Armed members of a Metropolitan Police kidnap unit carried out a secretive operation in Ipswich yesterday evening as shocked neighbours looked on in disbelief.

Officers wearing protective vests and balaclavas arrived in St George’s Street at around 7pm as part of an undisclosed operation.

Armed with guns and carrying shields, the officers spent more than an hour at the Dyke Street end of the road, which was closed to traffic.

Met Police spokesman Simon Fisher said: “Kidnap units have carried out an operation at St George’s Street.

“The investigation around this remains ongoing – as such was are not prepared to discuss for operational reasons.”

One nearby resident, who did not wish to give his name, said he had not been told anything about the operation. “The first thing I saw was the coppers walking past with guns,” he said. “Then the road was blocked off and that was it –- I think they blocked the whole street off.”

The resident said drugs raids had been carried out in the street “a couple of months back” but otherwise it was a “decent area”.

“It’s not very good when you see things like this.”

Several ambulances and police vans were seen heading towards St George’s Street.

The Kidnap Unit provides fast-time responses to life threatening crime including hostage situations, extortion, blackmail and any other serious crime.