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| 3D printer 'gun parts' found in Manchester raid | 3D printer 'gun parts' found in Manchester raid |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A 3D printer and suspected "homemade" gun components seized during police raids in Manchester are being examined. | |
| Detectives initially said the parts were a "plastic magazine and trigger" which could make a "viable" gun. | |
| But the man held on suspicion of making gunpowder has told the BBC they are actually sections of a 3D printer. | |
| Greater Manchester Police (GMP) now say they "cannot categorically say" whether they had recovered the component parts for a gun. | |
| A force spokesman said if the tests showed the parts could make a functioning weapon it would be the "first ever seizure of this kind in the UK". | A force spokesman said if the tests showed the parts could make a functioning weapon it would be the "first ever seizure of this kind in the UK". |
| Det Insp Chris Mossop, of GMP, said: "If what we have seized is proven to be viable components capable of constructing a genuine firearm, then it demonstrates that organised crime groups are acquiring technology that can be bought on the high street to produce the next generation of weapons. | Det Insp Chris Mossop, of GMP, said: "If what we have seized is proven to be viable components capable of constructing a genuine firearm, then it demonstrates that organised crime groups are acquiring technology that can be bought on the high street to produce the next generation of weapons. |
| "In theory, the technology essentially allows offenders to produce their own guns in the privacy of their own home, which they can then supply to the criminal gangs who are causing such misery in our communities. | "In theory, the technology essentially allows offenders to produce their own guns in the privacy of their own home, which they can then supply to the criminal gangs who are causing such misery in our communities. |
| "Because they are also plastic and can avoid X-ray detection, it makes them easy to conceal and smuggle." | "Because they are also plastic and can avoid X-ray detection, it makes them easy to conceal and smuggle." |
| He added: "If what we have seized today can, as we suspect, be used to make a genuine firearm then today will be an important milestone in the fight against this next generation of homemade weapons." | He added: "If what we have seized today can, as we suspect, be used to make a genuine firearm then today will be an important milestone in the fight against this next generation of homemade weapons." |
| The BBC's home affairs correspondent Dominic Casciani said the discovery was "almost inevitable" because of the relatively few firearms in circulation. | The BBC's home affairs correspondent Dominic Casciani said the discovery was "almost inevitable" because of the relatively few firearms in circulation. |
| "The worst-case-scenario would be a cheap and 100% reliable device that could be made overnight and then destroyed after just one use, disposing of crucial evidence to pin to a suspect," he added. | "The worst-case-scenario would be a cheap and 100% reliable device that could be made overnight and then destroyed after just one use, disposing of crucial evidence to pin to a suspect," he added. |
| 'Available guns' | 'Available guns' |
| The raid was part of GMP's Operation Challenger, which aims to "dismantle" organised criminal gangs. | The raid was part of GMP's Operation Challenger, which aims to "dismantle" organised criminal gangs. |
| Counterfeit goods worth £2m, more than £330,000 of drugs and £25,000 cash, have been seized in a crackdown. | Counterfeit goods worth £2m, more than £330,000 of drugs and £25,000 cash, have been seized in a crackdown. |
| 3D printing technology works by building up layer upon layer of material - typically plastic - to create complex solid objects. | 3D printing technology works by building up layer upon layer of material - typically plastic - to create complex solid objects. |
| Desktop 3D printers can be bought on the high street for less than £1,000, but prices can be as high as £10,000. | Desktop 3D printers can be bought on the high street for less than £1,000, but prices can be as high as £10,000. |
| The world's first gun made with 3D printer technology was successfully fired in the US in May. | The world's first gun made with 3D printer technology was successfully fired in the US in May. |
| The group that created the firearm, Defense Distributed, said it planned to make the blueprints available online. | The group that created the firearm, Defense Distributed, said it planned to make the blueprints available online. |
| Defense Distributed is headed by Cody Wilson, a 25-year-old law student at the University of Texas, who defended making the design available by saying: "I'm seeing a world where technology says you can pretty much be able to have whatever you want. | Defense Distributed is headed by Cody Wilson, a 25-year-old law student at the University of Texas, who defended making the design available by saying: "I'm seeing a world where technology says you can pretty much be able to have whatever you want. |
| "It's not up to the political players anymore." | "It's not up to the political players anymore." |
| At the time, Europe's law enforcement agency Europol said it feared criminals would follow suit as the technology became cheaper and more user friendly. | At the time, Europe's law enforcement agency Europol said it feared criminals would follow suit as the technology became cheaper and more user friendly. |