Parts for what could have been Britain’s first 3D printed gun were seized yesterday as police launched their largest ever operation to target organised crime across Manchester.
A part of the operation Challenger, warrants were executed in Baguley, Wythenshaw, where officers uncovered a 3D printer with a plastic magazine and trigger – the first ever seizure of this kind in the UK.
Investigations are being carried out by firearm specialists to see if the parts could make a viable gun and a man has been arrested on suspicion of making gunpowder.
3D printers can be bought for around £1,200 which can be used to download a number of items. The printers use molten plastic to produce 3D shapes of whatever has been downloaded. In the case of a gun, the model could have been used to fire genuine bullets.
Detective Inspector Chris Mossop of Challenger’s Organised Crime Coordination Unit said: “This is a really significant discovery for Greater Manchester Police.
“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.”
The find comes as a worry for police as the technology could allow criminals to produce their own guns.
This could also see an increase of street gangs with guns as offenders could make 3D guns capable of supplying gangs without detection as they would be made from plastic and not metal.
DI Mossop added: “These could be the next generation of firearms and 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.
“I would strongly urge anyone who has information about the whereabouts of a gun in their community to call us.”
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