I went to a protest once that featured, for some reason, a number of toy weapons used as props: a completely non-functional "crossbow" made with a bungee cord,

I went to a protest once that featured, for some reason, a number of toy weapons used as props: a completely non-functional "crossbow" made with a bungee cord, etc. The cops seized the "weapons" and their statement in the media made it sound as if they'd seized an actual crossbow, etc. This raid story makes me think of this. It could be someone seriously attempting to fabricate arms or it could just as likely be someone having fun experimenting. At any rate, I am quite skeptical about the cop's grandiose announcement that "today will be an important milestone in the fight against this next generation of homemade weapons".