3D-Printed Gun Model Goes Global, Linked to Militants and Extremists

A homemade 3D-printed gun known as the FGC-9 has spread rapidly across the globe, appearing in the hands of paramilitaries, rebels, and extremist groups in at least 15 countries. Initially a hobbyist project, the FGC-9 has now been adopted by neo-Nazis in Spain, rebels in Myanmar, and paramilitaries in Northern Ireland.

The firearm’s rapid proliferation has been largely driven by one of its designers, who operates online under the name Ivan the Troll. His efforts have helped turn a garage invention into a tool used by insurgents, drug dealers, and terrorists worldwide, prompting growing concern about the accessibility of 3D-printed weapons.