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Young Far-Right Extremist Arrested In NSW For Trying To 3D Print A Weapon

Young Far-Right Extremist Arrested In NSW For Trying To 3D Print A Weapon

The 26-year-old is facing up to 14 years behind bars if convicted.

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

Counter Terror Police in New South Wales have arrested a young man for allegedly possessing blueprints to manufacture a 3D-printed gun.

Officers swooped on the Orange property in the NSW Central West to take the 26-year-old into custody on Friday (September 10).

AFP Counter Terrorism and Special Investigations Stephen Dametto said: "We will allege the man charged by the JCTT has demonstrated support for extreme ideological views.

"The JCTT acted early to prevent him manufacturing a firearm, even though he allegedly made significant preparations to be able to do so.

"The potential for 3D printers to print firearms, or their components, is something police are constantly monitoring, and we will take action if we have evidence a person intends to manufacture a firearm."

Footage from the man's arrest shows a Nazi Germany flag with a swastika hanging in a room of the Orange property.

NSW Police

Police started their investigation into the man less than two weeks after Australian Border Force officers came across a package destined for the home in Orange.

They will allege the package contained a firearm component.

When they looked up the address and the man that the component was destined for, they realised it matched with their list of known right-wing extremists.

Another man, 31, was served with a Firearms Prohibition Order as part of this ongoing investigation.

The 26-year-old is now facing a maximum sentence of up to 14 years behind bars after being charged with possessing a digital blueprint to manufacture a firearm, contrary to section 51F(1) of the Firearms Act (NSW).

NSWPF Counter Terrorism and Special Tactics Command's Detective Superintendent Mick Sheehy said it is illegal to possess blueprints for the manufacture of firearms, whether on a device or stored in a cloud.

He added: "With the emergence of technologies, particularly in 3D-printing, authorities are proactively conducting inquiries into online activity and monitoring both the licit and illicit movement of firearms and firearm parts."

"Police continue to uncover evidence of all types of illicit firearms, including homemade firearms, which are often crudely manufactured or assembled.

"These types of firearms add another layer of risk in terms of the safety of the community as they are unstable, and many are unable to maintain integrity once fired. We will not hesitate to take action if we believe there is a possibility that a firearm could land in the wrong hands."

Featured Image Credit: NSW Police

Topics: No-Article-Matching, Australia