Robbers Used Weapons Smuggled From Iraq by Soldier

[Laughing Mirror]

By Eric M. Weiss
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, July 16, 2006; Page C01

The gang that carried out a series of commando-style bank robberies in the Washington area two years ago used fully automatic assault rifles that were smuggled from the battlefields of Iraq by a soldier in the U.S. Army Reserve, according to investigators.

An investigation by the FBI and local police is centering on several AK-47s the notorious robbers used in some of their heists. In Iraq, such weapons are plentiful and cheap. For the robbery gang, they were key to their strategy: using overwhelming firepower and body armor to frighten and intimidate bank employees and customers -- and ward off police.

New details about the guns have emerged from interviews with law enforcement officials and court records. The arrests and convictions of eight people in the robberies, including two who became government witnesses, led to the spin-off criminal investigation into how the rifles made their way from Iraq to Washington. No one has been arrested in the weapons case.
...
Law enforcement officials expressed concern that more high-powered battle weapons could end up being used in crimes against U.S. citizens and police. They cited the number, availability and low cost of weapons in Iraq and Afghanistan -- and the profits to be made here at home.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/15/AR2006071500909_pf.html

Is this the start of a new trend?

[RufusEarl]

1. It was only a matter of time,

with recent stories of skin heads and gang members joining the military, it was only a matter of time before we started seeing these weapons on our streets.