Armed police stopped a car on the motorway this morning because the occupants were wanted in connection with an aggravated burglary at a suspected cannabis factory.
The M1 was brought to a standstill at around 8.45am (April 14) just south of Bricket Wood after armed officers stopped a vehicle which was travelling towards London.
See more: New footage emerges of armed policing stop on M1 near Watford
Bedfordshire Police have said the stop was in connection with an incident in Luton earlier this morning.
At around 7.30am, officers were called to reports of a break-in and a fight where several people were seen with weapons in Warren Street.
Police say people left the scene in two vehicles.
One car was later stopped in Luton and two machetes were found inside.
The vehicle stopped in Luton. Credit BCH Road Policing Unit
The second vehicle was later seen on the M1 travelling towards Watford.
A driver travelling on the M1 northbound near Bricket Wood this morning says they saw at least three armed policing vehicles surrounding a blue vehicle on the hard shoulder of the motorway.
They added other police units were further back blocking traffic, while more officers were spotted on a bridge over the motorway.
Armed police on the M1 near Watford. Credit: Twitter/@CrimeLdn
Bedfordshire Police says nine people aged between 18 and 23 from Luton, London, Hayes, and High Wycombe, have been arrested in connection with this morning's incident in Luton on suspicion of aggravated burglary.
One of the weapons seized by Bedfordshire Police. Credit: BCH Road Policing Unit
They all remain in police custody.
Detective Inspector Nick Gardner, from Bedfordshire Police’s crime investigation team, said: "We understand that this incident will cause concern among our local communities.
"We would like to reassure our residents that we are doing all we can to investigate this incident, and carrying out reassurance patrols in the area.
"The illegal drugs trade invariably brings violence, exploitation and other crime types with it. That’s why we’ll continue to crack down on the organised crime gangs involved in things like cannabis factories and stop them causing misery in our communities."
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