Hungary’s police weapons useless against terrorists?

Second degree terrorism alert has been issued in Hungary in the wake of the Brussels blasts on March 22. Alfahir.hu reports on the quality and effectiveness of the weapons with which the patrolling police officers are armed.

The main claims against the weapons are that they are either outdated or not suitable for the task at hand. The only groups that possess advanced and up-to-date weaponry are the units of the Hungarian counter-terrorism force TEK.

The police officers patrolling the streets, underpasses and metros carry the following weapons: Pa-63, P9RC, and AMD-65.

Many police officers use the Pa-63 as a service weapon. It is the Hungarian replica of the German Walther PP (Polizeipistole), and its production began in the ’60s. Its main flaw, besides its outdated construction, is the size of its magazine: it only carries 7 bullets.