By Martin Evans, Crime Correspondent
11:45AM BST 25 Oct 2013
Officers uncovered components including a trigger mechanism and a magazine capable of holding bullets during a raid on a property in Manchester.
The makeshift weapon was found alongside a state of the art 3D printer, sparking fears that those responsible were planning the country’s first factory specialising in turning out the next generation of deadly firearms.
Sir Peter Fahey, Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, told Sky News that the weapons were a “new phenomenon”, but said his officers were determined to prevent them making it onto the streets.
Earlier this year concerns were raised that the printers – which construct everyday solid items using very thin layers of plastic – could be used to make a gun containing no metal parts.
Security experts fear the weapons will be used by criminals to evade detection by security scanners at airports and other high risk targets.
Detective Inspector Chris Mossop of GMP told Sky: “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.
“Because they are also plastic and can avoid X-ray detection, it makes them easy to conceal and smuggle. These could be the next generation of firearms.”
Sir Peter added: “We will really need to look at this new development. Certainly we feel that we are having success – and the important thing is not to be defeatist about this.
“It is not to think that we’ll never win that these people are cleverer than us, they are not, they are just more violent than us.”
In May a US defence company successfully fired the first ever gun made with 3D printer technology and announced plans to distribute the blueprints online.
The cost of 3D printers has fallen dramatically and now be purchased for less than £1,000.
A man has been arrested and is being questioned in connection with the seizure.
© Copyright of Telegraph Media Group Limited 2013
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/10403432/3D-printed-gun-discovered-by-police.html