A gun was stolen from an exhibitor’s stand during the recent arms fair at the ExCeL exhibition centre in Custom House.

The incident, which occurred on Friday September 16, sparked a major clampdown at the venue where security for those entering it was tight.

It also brought swift condemnation from peace protesters and campaigners who said: “While hundreds of police were deployed to stop peaceful protesters reaching ExCeL the real crimes were going on inside.”

A spokesperson for the show, Defence & Security Equipment International, said: “DSEi can confirm that a non-firing weapon was forcibly removed from an exhibitor’s stand last Friday afternoon. Individual exhibitors are responsible for ensuring that their displays are kept secure at all times and DSEi supports them in doing this. The exhibitor and ourselves are working with the Metropolitan Police to assist in their ongoing investigation.”

A spokeswoman for the Campaign Against Arms Trade, said: “Although DSEi are adamant that the weapons exhibited at the arms fair are both secure and legal, it seems neither claim is true. Police are seeking a weapon forcibly stolen from the exhibition while the Pakistani government pavilion was closed down for advertising banned cluster bombs.”

A spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Police confirmed that enquiries are continuing into the theft of the pistol which has not yet been recovered.