A machine gun has been recovered in an abandoned car in Lurgan, with police in Co Armagh appealing for information about the movements of the vehicle prior to the discovery.
The automatic weapon is thought to belong to dissident republicans who may have panicked and abandoned the car.
The Hyundai car fitted with fake number plate EF65 HLH had been abandoned in the Deeney Drive area of Lurgan for several days prior to its discovery on Sunday. Suspicions were raised by a member of the public.
Detective Inspector Harvey called on any witnesses to contact detectives from the Criminal Investigation Branch, based in Lurgan.
"Did you see this car being parked by anyone?
"Did you see anyone or any vehicles acting suspiciously in and around this vehicle over the past week?
"It does not matter how insignificant you may think your information is, it may help piece together the movements of those responsible and bring them to justice".
Upper Bann DUP MP, David Simpson commended police saying: "It is likely that this weapon has been used in violent crime and I want to commend the member of the public for alerting police to the suspicious activity of the vehicle where the suspected machine gun was found.
"Police forensics will now carry out their investigations and identify possible links to criminal activity.
"It is deeply concerning that whoever abandoned the weapon did so with reckless intentions towards the local community", he added.
