Police raid suspected gun factory at house on quiet Dove Holes estate
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Organised crime officers swooped on a house on Walker Brow - seizing ammunition and components including barrels and tools used to make illegal firearms - at 8.30am.
A 20-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm and remains in custody.
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A photo taken by officers shows evidence bags filled with handgun casings, and ammunition magazines.
The dramatic scenes unfolded at the quiet cul-de-sac - made up of large, detached, newbuild homes - as part of an on-going investigation into the supply of firearms and ammunition.
Detective Constable Christopher Chinnery, of GMP's Serious and Organised Crime Group, said: "This is a significant discovery as part of our commitment to tackle the use of firearms and gang-related crime in Greater Manchester.
"These items could have led to devastating consequences and we remain committed to tackling organised crime across Greater Manchester."
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Reacting with shock to the news, Dove Holes councillor Peter Roberts said ‘if these are illegal firearms then it’s great that they’ve been taken off the streets’.
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He said: “Law-abiding gun-holders don’t cause any problems but if these weapons are fuelling gun crime then it’s good they’ve been seized.
“I’m quite taken aback by this - Ok, so Dove Holes is not the prettiest village but generally speaking people here are a very nice bunch.”
However another resident who did not want to be named said she was ‘not surprised’ by the find.
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She added: “I’m not surprised but it doesn’t worry me anymore than drug raids or anything else - it’s just part of life now.”
Others in the village said they were unaware the raid had happened - however one man added: “The village has grown quite a bit now, so we don’t know everything that goes on.”
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Another villager said: “I can’t believe it - we used to be such a sleepy little place.”
Members of the public are permitted to own sporting rifles and shotguns subject to licensing in the UK.
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However handguns were banned for most purposes after the Dunblane school massacre in 1996 - with the exception of Northern Ireland.