Terror fear as elite SAS rifles stolen in ‘professional heist’

COUNTER terror officers are investigating the theft of 16 specialist rifles used by the SAS as they were being upgraded by a Government-approved arms company for use on operations in Syria.

The “professional heist” has triggered a secret inquiry by the military police, MI5 and the National Crime Agency amid concerns the bespoke weapons were snatched to order for a foreign government.

Four sniper rifles and 12 C8 carbine assault rifles as well as ammunition – believed to include Lapua armour-piercing rounds – were taken from Hereford’s TAC Coatings in January.

SAS chiefs and police kept the incident under wraps, sources say, with the Ministry of Defence Special Investigations branch of the Military Police only launching an investigation two weeks ago when they became aware of the theft.

TAC Coatings has a contract with the ministry to maintain specialist weapons at 22 SAS, which has included coating almost every rifle and handgun used by the regiment and its support units when deployed in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.

The coating is thought to be a powder ceramic spray which reduces weapons’ illumination to electronic surveillance systems and infrared radar, leaving them near invisible. Formed in 2012 the company is understood to be run by two special forces soldiers and is the only one in the UK with a licence to work on special forces equipment – using a coating from the United States used by their Delta force and SEAL units.

The Cerakote spray, has a matt finish and is believed to include a plastic film that can bounce back infra-red rays hiding guns from a night vision system. Last night a military source said: “These were not your regular weapons that criminals want – they were very specialist and you need a high level of training to use them. “These sniper rifles have been specially adapted and are bespoke to those who use them... not many countries other than the US have access to these weapons.

“We regularly send weapons to TAC to be coated, especially before a tour. There is concern that the sniper rifles and new sights on the assault rifles may have been of interest to Russian mercenaries and therefore MI5 are involved.”

Based on a small business park, TAC has high-level security, including alarms linked to the police, 2ftthick walls around its armoury and a safe-style door to the weapons.

According to police sources, the thieves made their entrance through the roof and appeared to know exactly what they were doing, only taking the weapons with a high combat value and huge interest to foreign armies.

The firm’s website states: “TAC Coatings has the authority and facilities to provide firearm coating services to governmental, military and law enforcement organisations. Our extensive experience on AR platforms and pistols puts us in an ideal position to offer advice on the correct coating system for the application and environment of the firearm.we are able to offer full armoury facilities and strip and assembly services.”

As well as the SAS, the Special Reconnaissance Regiment is based in the area and similar weapons used by the Special Forces Support Group, based in St Athans, near Cardiff also send weapons to TAC.

Detective Inspector Mark Peters, of West Mercia Police, said: “At around 3.45am on January 3 officers responded to calls of a reported burglary at a commercial premises in Kingstone.

“We believe suspects broke into the property around 3.30am and stole a number of firearms and ammunition. I would like to reassure the community that a thorough investigation is under way and my team and I are reviewing a number of lines of enquiry.”