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By Gareth Davies

22 August 2018 • 2:33pm

A large-scale illegal gun factory has been discovered on a Sussex industrial estate, the National Crime Agency has announced.

Investigators responded to what was believed to be gunshots coming from inside what the NCA called a warehouse unit describing itself as a gearbox repair business on an industrial estate in Hailsham, East Sussex.

Officers raided the building on Saturday night and found what they believe to be a "sophisticated" operation producing guns, of which the NCA has subsequently seized around 30.

Three men found leaving the building were arrested and police had to use a Taser on one of them, an NCA spokesman said.

On the weekend, two guns were found as well as ammunition, but further searches uncovered the true magnitude of the factory.

Rob Hickinbottom, head of the national firearms threat centre at the NCA, said on Wednesday afternoon: "We believe we have disrupted a group involved in the criminal production of firearms, and as a result we have prevented a potentially large quantity of weapons from getting into the hands of criminals and being used in violence on our streets."

The NCA and Sussex Police officers have remained at Diplocks Way, combing the industrial estate for more evidence.

Mr Hickinbottom added: "That search has taken several days, but during that time we have found what we believe to be a sophisticated gun factory.

"We have found a range of machinery and components used in the criminal manufacture of firearms and ammunition from scratch.

"We have found what we suspect are a number of handguns in various stages of production, as well as templates and metal for use in their manufacture.

"Those are now being analysed by forensic experts to determine what category of firearm they fit into."

Mr Hickinbottom, citing operational reasons, said he could not comment on how the NCA were tipped off about the site, but told reporters at a news briefing: "Officers heard loud bangs consistent with gunshots emanating from inside an industrial unit on the estate.

"The unit was an engineering workshop, with signage outside showing it to be a gearbox repair business."

The NCA believe the factory was producing ammunition as well as the weapons, and could not rule out whether or not the guns were in circulations.

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Originally posted by Opus Dei:
the national firearms threat centre

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Originally posted by Black92LX:
30 = Large Scale??