Overview

• Operation Flycatcher was launched in mid-July after police recorded a surge in samurai sword-wielding robberies across East London transport lines.
• At 3am on July 16, 60 officers raided four addresses, arresting six teenagers suspected in 51 linked offences involving robbery, attempted robbery, and theft.
• Two more arrests followed later that morning and a subsequent four-day sweep led to 13 additional under-18 suspects being held on similar charges.
• Officers recovered multiple samurai swords from teenagers’ bedrooms, connecting those weapons to thefts of mobile phones and luxury watches.
• The six principal suspects from the initial raids have been bailed until October as British Transport Police deepen their investigation on the network.