FIREARMS officers who carried out a drugs raid in Ipswich yesterday used “stun grenades” to distract those in the property.The devices, which create gunshot sounds and a large flash, were set off as specialist officers entered a house in the town's Robeck Road.

FIREARMS officers who carried out a drugs raid in Ipswich yesterday used “stun grenades” to distract those in the property.

The devices, which create gunshot sounds and a large flash, were set off as specialist officers entered a house in the town's Robeck Road.

A door was forced at the address at 5am as a part of a crackdown on a suspected London drugs ring, being led by the Metropolitan Police.

Suffolk police executed the warrant and made two arrests at the scene as part of the operation.

Although commonly used in crowd management, the grenades are rarely used in Suffolk, with yesterday thought to be one of the first times they have been discharged in the county.

Known as percussion grenades, the Home Office-approved devices detonate on impact and are usually thrown into a property around the same time as officers enter.

Lisa Miller, spokeswoman for Suffolk police, said they represent a valuable crime-fighting tool.

“The percussion grenades are used by the police to distract the people inside,” she said.

“They make a lot of noise, which is similar to the sound of a shot gun being fired, and have a bright light as well.”

She added that the devices do not affect or harm potential suspects.

The two people from Ipswich who were arrested at the address were a 19-year-old man, who remains in custody, and a 20-year-old man, who has been released on police bail. Both were arrested on suspicion of drugs offences.

Mrs Miller said the 20-year-old man may later be transferred into the custody of the Metropolitan Police.