Armed police swooped on a Huddersfield filling station as part of a major operation targeting gun crime.

Eye-witnesses told how officers with guns surrounded a car at the BP filling station in New Hey Road, Salendine Nook, shortly after 8.30pm on Tuesday.

Now detectives have revealed it was part of a pre-planned operation which has so far led to eight arrests.

Det Chief Insp Warren Stevenson, from the West Yorkshire Homicide and Major Enquiry Team said; “Eight people were arrested as part of a pre-planned policing operation.

“A number of officers were involved to minimise the risk to the public, and to maximise the safety of those involved. Our investigation is ongoing.”

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Chief Supt Steve Cotter, of Kirklees District Police, said; “This was a pre-planned policing operation and there is no wider threat to the public.

“However increased high visibility patrols will be in the area to offer further reassurance.

“Officers from across the district continue to work to detect crime, apprehend offenders and protect vulnerable people. This operation emphasises our commitment to the public that we will do everything within our power to tackle criminality in our district.”

The armed officers at Salendine Nook were joined by others and some of the police apparently had their faces covered.

They are believed to have arrested a man and a woman from the car, which is thought to have been a taxi.

CCTV still from the BP station in Salendine Nook where armed police surrounded a car
CCTV still from the BP station in Salendine Nook where armed police surrounded a car

One local driver, John McNamara, saw what happened.

He said: “Two riot vans, a standard police car and an undercover police car pulled up at the BP petrol station in Salendine Nook.

“The undercover police car had blocked a taxi in the forecourt. There were two police officers in plain clothes, covering their faces with bandanas, they both had guns strapped to their legs too.

“They were apprehending a bald man, middle aged, who appeared to be the taxi driver. He was led off into the back of a police van, shortly followed by a woman who was in the back.

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“The riot vans left, an ambulance arrived and they appeared to be treating someone in the passenger side of the taxi. One also went into the petrol station itself.

“We watched for about fifteen to twenty minutes, and as we were leaving another police car arrived with sirens on.”

Images from the scene show a number of police vehicles at the filling station.