Police in England said Friday they have seized what
could be the parts for Britain's first firearm made
using 3-D printing -- but later said more testing is
needed to establish if this is the case.
An initial news release from Greater Manchester
Police said officers had found "a 3D printer and what
is suspected to be a 3D plastic magazine and trigger
which could be fitted together to make a viable 3D
gun" when they searched locations Thursday in the
Baguley area, near Manchester in northwest England.
But after doubts were raised, the force released a
second statement stressing that the parts were still
being examined.
"We need to be absolutely clear that at this stage, we
cannot categorically say we have recovered the
component parts for a 3D gun," Assistant Chief
Constable Steve Heywood said.
"What we have seized are items that need further
forensic testing by national ballistics experts to
establish whether they can be used in the
construction of a genuine, viable firearm.
"We will also be conducting a thorough analysis of
computers we have recovered to establish any
evidence of a blueprint on how to construct such a
weapon."
U.S.-based tech blog Gigaom reported that it
appeared the items police suspected of being gun
components were in fact spare parts for the 3D
printer.
The raid that netted the items was part of a planned
week of action against criminal gangs in Manchester,
police said. A man has been arrested on suspicion of
making gunpowder and is being questioned.
3-D printed guns a boon for criminals?
In his statement, Heywood said the seizure had
prompted discussion around the potential threats
posed by 3-D printing."Clearly the fact we have seized a 3D printer and
have intelligence about the possible production of a
weapon using this technology is of concern. It (is)
prudent we establish exactly what these parts can be
used for and whether they pose any threat," he said.
"What this has also done is open up a wider debate
about the emerging threat these next generation of
weapons might pose."
Printing instructions
Others have also raised concerns about the potential
for 3-D printing to be used to create weapons.
U.S. requires group to remove 3-D gun instructions
from its website
This year, the U.S. State Department ordered
Defense Distributed, a nonprofit group set up by a
Texas law student, to remove instructions for printing
a handgun with a 3-D printer from its website.
Video shows test-firing of 3-D printed handgun
The group's founder, Cody Wilson, had posted a
video online showing a single shot being fired from
"The Liberator," a plastic handgun that, with the
exception of a metal firing pin and a piece of metal
included to comply with the Undetectable Firearms
Act, was assembled entirely from parts made with a
3-D printer.
Wilson complied with the order, but not before the
design had been downloaded more than 100,000
times.
The Victoria and Albert Museum in London
subsequently acquired two models of the Liberator
pistol, which were put on display last month as part
of a design exhibition.The Science Museum in London also has a Liberator
on display.
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