Two 13-year-old boys have been arrested as part of a crackdown on gun crime in Merseyside.
The pair from Huyton were detained arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm after police responded to reports of a man seen with a firearm in Kirkby.
A 17-year-old from the local area was also arrested when armed officers attended and forced entry into the address on Beech Rise at 5.20am on Saturday.
All three have been taken to police stations in the Merseyside area where they will be questioned by detectives. No weapon has been recovered at this stage.
Officers also executed a warrant at a separate address in Kirkby and arrested a 24-year-old local man who was wanted for a No Bail Warrant.
He was also arrested on suspicion of possession of a controlled drug and has been taken to a police station where he will be questioned by detectives.
Further arrests saw a 38-year-old man from Litherland detained on suspicion of conspiracy to import and conspiracy to supply controlled drugs after 15kg of cannabis resin was recovered.
A number of phones, computers and a quantity of drugs were seized when a warrant was executed.
Detective Chief Inspector Andy O’Connor, said: “The force has put extensive resources in place following a number of firearms discharges in Liverpool, Sefton and Knowsley this week.
“Officers from Matrix disruption, Roads Policing, Dogs and Mounted, are working with officers from the local policing areas and detectives to bring pressure on serious organised crime groups who we believe may have access to firearms.
“We are determined to build up the evidence in relation to recent firearms discharges so we can find and arrest those responsible and take out weapons that are being used in our communities.
“We are committed to tackling gun crime on Merseyside and last night officers from Roads Policing were carrying out road checks in the affected areas to disrupt criminal groups using cars and other vehicles on our roads and our specialist Matrix search team also carried out a search of open land near to ASDA in Bootle, whilst officers involved in high visibility patrols were carrying out targeted stop searches on individuals believed to be involved in serious organised crime.
“Our communities can expect to see more of this activity in the coming days and weeks and our message to those who are creating fear in our communities through the use of firearms, is that we are doing everything in our power to find out who is involved in the latest incidents and we won’t rest until we find those involved.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank community members who have already come forward with information to help us and I would appeal to any community members who have information which could help us, who haven’t come forward yet, to call us as soon as possible so we can take quick and decisive action and get these criminals off our streets.
“I would also like to thank those members of our communities who have supported our officers who are carrying out reassurance patrols in the area and have expressed their thanks. Our officers are very much a part of the communities we serve and we understand the fear and disharmony that this kind of criminal activity creates in our communities.”
If you have any information about those involved in gun crime on Merseyside, or think you know where these groups are storing guns, please contact the Merseyside Police gun crime hotline on 0800 230 0600, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.