Summary

Reports of armed police stop vehicle on M1 near Watford

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  • Four men were arrested after armed police stopped a vehicle on the M1 near Watford this morning.
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  • Officers swooped on the vehicle as it travelled southbound between Bricket Wood and Watford at around 8.45am (April 14).
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  • Bedfordshire Police have confirmed the stop was in connection with an aggravated burglary at a suspected cannabis factory in Luton earlier this morning.
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  • In total, nine people were arrested from inside two vehicles, after a second car was stopped in Luton.
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  • Police say they were called to reports of a break-in and a fight in Warren Street in Luton at around 7.30am today.
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  • The group then fled in two cars - one of which was stopped in Luton, and two machetes were seized.
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  • The second car was spotted on the M1 and pulled over near Watford.
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  • One driver travelling on the M1 northbound at around 8.45am has told us they saw two people lying on the ground with guns pointed towards them, surrounded by three armoured police vehicles.
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  • They added officers were also stationed on a bridge close to the scene, with southbound traffic stopped.
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  • The incident caused queues on St Albans Road in Garston as drivers avoided the M1. Traffic on the M1 and other roads in Watford cleared by around 10.30am.
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  • Bedfordshire Police have confirmed nine people aged between 18 and 23 are currently in police custody.

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