A gun has been seized by police in a dawn raid in London’s East End during an operation across the metropolis involving 1,000 officers.

East London Advertiser: Police raids...Police raids... (Image: Archant)

The bust was one of a series of swoops by police in the run-up to the weekend’s Notting Hill Carnival.

Officers searching a Tower Hamlets address also took away suspect gloves and gaffer tape as well as the firearm.

Police arrested 62 people across London in yesterday’s raids and also recovered drugs and cash as part of an operation targeting gang crime they fear could endanger public safety at the three-day carnival.

The arrests were mainly for possession with intent to supply as well as violent offences, but also include assault on police and public order offences, Scotland Yard confirmed.

Bail conditions have been imposed, with some suspects banned from going to the weekend carnival.

“Troublemakers are not welcome,” the Met’s Notting Hill Carnival spokesman Supt Robyn Williams said. “The operation was aimed at making sure those who intend to cause trouble are prohibited.”

Officers trained as “super recognisers” will be in the carnival’s CCTV control room Saturday to Bank Holiday Monday, searching for anyone banned from the event.

Police are also carrying out moves aimed at disrupting potential disorder in the run-up to the carnival, including weapons sweeps and operating metal-detection knife arches.

Around 1,000 officers took part in the operation, drawn from all Metropolitan police divisions, along with specialist teams such as Task forces, Trident, Area Crime commands, local neighbourhood teams, dog units and traffic patrols, as well as City of London and Transport police forces and the National Crime Agency.