Romanian police detain foreigner suspected of making firearms with 3D printers

The Romanian police have detained a man with dual Iraqi and British citizenship in the western county of Timis, who was suspected of illegally making weapons and components with 3D printers, announced authorities on Thursday.

This is the first case involving the use of 3D printers to manufacture weapons in Romania.

Police officers carried out 6 domiciliary visits on Wednesday, both at the home of the person in question and at the buildings of some persons who might be involved in said actions, according to a press release of the General Inspectorate of the Romanian Police (IGPR).

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The police said they seized during the searches two automatic lethal assault weapons for military use likely to come from smuggling, 11 weapons with features of lethal weapons, weapon components, 20 pieces of ammunitions with a percussion cap, components made for explosive devices, 64 magazines, electronic circuits, three laptops, a printer, a PC unit, three external hardware discs and 15 3D printers.

Investigations so far have revealed that the man, aged 46, “would have conceived and designed semi-automatic plastic or polymer weapons with features of a lethal firearm using 3D design computer and electronic equipment.”

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The man is being investigated for the violation of the legislation on firearms and ammunition, according to the authorities.

Source: Xinhua