Armed cops raid abandoned Rayners Lane house (From Harrow Times)

Armed cops raid abandoned Rayners Lane house

12:40pm Wednesday 8th July 2009 in

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ARMED police kicked in the door of an abandoned house in Rayners Lane and conducted an extensive search inside as part of a large operation in Berkshire.

Metropolitan Police firearms officers in bullet proof vests and helmets closed off Capthorne Avenue at around 10am on Sunday and forced their way into the semi-detached house.

They were acting on behalf of Thames Valley Police, and remained on the scene for around 24 hours to carry out exhaustive forensic tests.

Denis Scanlon, 39, who lives next door, said: “The response team turned up. There were a lot of armed police. I was in the back garden. I noticed they were armed and then stuck my head back inside.

“They put the door in and stated who they were but they didn't find anyone. The house was abandoned.

“It's been abandoned for too long. It's a magnet for young people with nothing to do.”

Gopal Ratnam, 46, who lives opposite the house, took photos from his bedroom when he saw police officers preparing to kick in the front door.

He said: “I just opened the door and stepped out and one of the cops had a gun and he said 'get back'.

“They broke in the gate and then the door. There were so many police from different units and some forensic experts came as well. I thought something really bad had happened.”

Thames Valley Police have remained tight-lipped about the operation, which they say forms part of a wider investigation in Berkshire.

Leo Tarring, spokesman for Thames Valley Police, said: “We would like to make it very clear that this was not a raid. The incident was not terrorist-related or one affecting the wider community.

“Due to a number of ongoing enquiries, Thames Valley Police is not commenting on the incident any further at this stage.”

He refused to comment on suggestions from neighbours that children had been seen running from the scene shortly before police arrive, or that a scream had been heard coming from the house, which is thought to have stood empty for more than a year.