Boy, 13, charged after police find 'assassin gun kit' in his home

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The boy was charged with firearms offences after a raid on his home in New Cross yesterday found the terrifying arsenal.

The kit, made by Russian company Baikal, was found hidden under the stairs of the boy's home as police carriedout an operation targeting armed gangs in south London.

The boy is believed to live alone with his mother and is suspected of being a member of a notorious street gang.

He was remanded in custody last night and is due to appear at Balham Juvenile Court today. Detective Chief Inspector Peter Beyer, head of Scotland Yard's Central Task Force said: "It is deeply concerning that we have found a child of this age with a weapon that we believe is capable of firing.

"We will continue to target anyone who is under the misapprehension that carrying a gun is a good idea. Having a gun, even if it isn't used, is being dealt with incredibly seriously by the Met."

In the past months, police in south London have seized a number of guns from teenagers in raids on gangs.

The Baikal is a small, snub, black handgun. Unloaded it weighs just 2lb and sits easily in the palm of the hand.

They are gas firing weapons which are converted to fire real ammunition in Lithuanian gun factories before being smuggled into Britain where they have come to be known as the "gangster's gun". On the black market in the UK a kit including the gun, silencers and bullets exchanges hands for up to £2,500.

In October last year Philip Poru, 18, was killed by a bullet from a Baikal as he sat with a friend in a car in Plumstead. A total of 11 teenagers have been shot dead in London since the beginning of last year. By March this year, British police forces had recovered more than 250 Baikals.