In 2019, two people were shot dead in Halle, in Germany, by an attacker using a homemade weapon partly realized in 3D. This was based on a plan downloaded from the internet, the European Criminal Police Agency reported on Friday.
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More and more 3D printed weapons have been seized in recent years in Europe, worries Europol, Friday, May 27. The European Criminal Police Agency organized this week in The Hague (Netherlands) a conference bringing together professionals and experts to tackle the issue.
“The threat posed by 3D printed weapons is very present on Europol’s radar”said Martin van der Meij, a senior agency official. Over the past few years, Europol has observed a “increasing number of these firearms seized in investigations across Europe”.
In 2019, two people were shot dead in Halle, Germany by an assailant using a homemade weapon. This was based on a plan downloaded from the internet to partially manufacture the weapon with a 3D printer, Europol reported. Last year in Spain, the police also dismantled an illegal workshop dedicated to the manufacture of 3D printed weapons in Tenerife. A month later, three people were arrested in Keighley (UK) as part of an investigation into far-right terrorism. They were accused of possessing 3D printed weapon components, according to Europol.
An international network of experts on 3D printed firearms will be created. He will be responsible for keeping law enforcement informed of the development of these weapons.