A MILITARY assault rifle is among a cache of prohibited firearms and ammunition uncovered by detectives following a raid on two Bathurst properties Tuesday afternoon.
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The military rifle, an identical weapon to that used by Australian mass murderer Martin Bryant in Port Arthur, was one of a quantity found in a storage facility in Corporation Avenue during an initial search warrant executed by police.
Among the stash of firearms and ammunition located in the secure storage shed were a .22 calibre semi-automatic pistol; Bruno bolt-action .223 calibre long arm with scope; lever-action .22 calibre rifle; black assault-style, pump-action shotgun; black assault-style, semi-automatic shotgun; and a can of capsicum spray.
Police also seized thousands of rounds of ammunition and various gun parts including gun barrels, stocks and trigger mechanisms; SKS magazines and silencers.
Later that afternoon, a second search warrant was executed at a home in Llanarth, with police seizing a body armour vest, ammunition, prohibited drugs and drug paraphernalia.
Chifley local area command duty officer Chris Davey said the find was the result from a tip-off to police and vowed authorities would continue to do everything they could to get prohibited weapons off the streets.
"Any information given to police regarding prohibited firearms will be acted on, the community can be assured of that," he said.
Inspector Davey said the cache uncovered on Tuesday was particularly dangerous and would be could be catastrophic in the wrong hands.
"A pistol could be secreted on a person and an SKS is an assault rifle; the same weapon used by Martin Bryant," he said.
"They're all capable of causing lethal injuries."
Inspector Davey said specialist police and local detectives were continuing their investigations and want to hear from anyone who may be able to identify the owner of the weaponry.
He said it was a huge win for police and the community to get any prohibited weapons off the street, but said police did not believe the weapons were related to a string of gun related crime currently plaguing Sydney.
Anyone with information that might assist investigators with their inquiries is urged to contact Bathurst police station via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
