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| Bullet-proof hoodie to go on sale | Bullet-proof hoodie to go on sale |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A bullet-proof hooded top designed to protect against street violence has been made by an east London firm. | |
| The £300 "Defender" top will stop 9mm Magnum handgun bullets, according to the manufacturer Bladerunner, which also makes slash-proof vests. | |
| Owner Barry Samms denied the hoodie was targeted at teenage gang members and said it was primarily aimed at US customers concerned about gun violence. | |
| Mothers Against Murder and Aggression said it spread "the fear factor". | |
| Lyn Costello, founder of the campaign group also known as Mamaa, said it sent out the wrong message. We want to encourage them away from a life of violence not towards it Lyn Costello, Mamaa | |
| "I don't think it helps. It spreads the fear factor and makes teenagers think they are invincible. | |
| "It disgusts me that companies think about money rather than the safety of our kids. | |
| "We want to encourage them away from a life of violence not towards it." | |
| A total of 11 teenagers have died as a result of violent crime in London since the start of the year. | A total of 11 teenagers have died as a result of violent crime in London since the start of the year. |
| Thinner material | Thinner material |
| The top is made from a fibre called Dyneema, which is thinner than the material used to make traditional bullet-proof vests. | The top is made from a fibre called Dyneema, which is thinner than the material used to make traditional bullet-proof vests. |
| Mr Samms, who owns the Romford firm, said he could only manufacture a hoodie because it was not possible to put a zip into bullet-proof material. | |
| I don't see that there is much of a market in the UK, because luckily we have such strict gun laws Barry Samms, Bladerunner | |
| He said: "Adults wear hoodies too. My mum wears one and you don't see her hanging out on street corners. | He said: "Adults wear hoodies too. My mum wears one and you don't see her hanging out on street corners. |
| "We really thought last year when we brought out the stab-proof top that they were going to be for teenagers, yet they are the last people to actually buy one." | "We really thought last year when we brought out the stab-proof top that they were going to be for teenagers, yet they are the last people to actually buy one." |
| He said a mother from Walthamstow, east London, whose son had been mugged three times, was among customers asking for bullet-proof clothing. | He said a mother from Walthamstow, east London, whose son had been mugged three times, was among customers asking for bullet-proof clothing. |
| "We've had quite a lot of interest from the US and a couple of calls from the UK," he said. | "We've had quite a lot of interest from the US and a couple of calls from the UK," he said. |
| "I don't see that there is much of a market in the UK, because luckily we have such strict gun laws. | "I don't see that there is much of a market in the UK, because luckily we have such strict gun laws. |
| "People don't have to go to such extremes to protect themselves over here." | "People don't have to go to such extremes to protect themselves over here." |