Sign into an existing account

Article reproduced below:

A central NSW man with the Nazi flag and a map of the state on his bedroom wall has been arrested by counter-terrorism police over a plan to make a 3D gun.

The 26-year-old will face a Dubbo magistrate on Monday charged with breaching the firearms act, following his arrest in Orange on Friday.

His home was searched by counter-terrorism police after a brief investigation into the importation of firearm components by an alleged supporter of ideologically motivated violent extremism.

A search of his phone allegedly uncovered a digital blueprint to manufacture a firearm - an offence carrying a maximum of 14 years in prison.

The investigation began less than two weeks ago, when customs officers found a firearm component inside a package addressed to the Orange man.

The man has allegedly been importing "legally obtained items" since mid-2020 with the view to manufacturing firearms, police said on Monday.

"The Joint Counter Terrorism Team acted early to prevent him manufacturing a firearm, even though he allegedly made significant preparations to be able to do so," Australian Federal Police's counter-terrorism commander, Stephen Dametto, said in a statement.

The JCCT combines officers from the AFP and NSW police with investigators in spy agency ASIO and the NSW Crime Commission.

"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," Commander Dametto said.

Images released by police show a bedroom with a Nazi flag hanging on a wall alongside a map of NSW, a guitar case and an overflowing washing basket.

NSW Police said homemade firearms were 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," Detective Superintendent Mick Sheehy, from the NSW Police counter-terrorism command, said in a statement.

"We will not hesitate to take action if we believe there is a possibility that a firearm could land in the wrong hands."