EFL:
The discovery of an underground weapons factory in Melbourne producing submachine-guns fitted with silencers is a dangerous development in the context of the city's gangland war, federal Justice Minister Chris Ellison warned yesterday. He revealed that three Owen submachine-guns and parts to make another six had been seized from a building in Melbourne's south-east. The Australian Crime Commission and the Victoria Police carried out the raid last month. Senator Ellison said the weapons were being made on the property but he would not say exactly where it was. "There is no doubt that if you manufacture an Owen submachine-gun with a 30 round clip to go with it that is a very serious weapon indeed," Senator Ellison told The Age. The Owen gun was a simple, lightweight and effective firearm invented in Australia and mass-produced during World War II. | Meaning any well-equipped machine shop can churn them out |
Australian troops used the weapon in New Guinea and elsewhere. The discovery of silencers with the weapons was of grave concern, Senator Ellison said. "The silencer is a sinister element," he said. "That is very, very serious. | Sinister and grave, I guess you'll need to establish another commision to study the problem. |
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