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Photo: Friso Gentsch / dpa
A youth who was out and about in Linz am Rhein with an airsoft gun and camouflage clothing triggered a large-scale police operation.
The minor from the town in Rhineland-Palatinate was observed trying to transport the airsoft gun to a friend on the street, the police said on Friday.
He then moved away from the street and disappeared into a bush.
A road user alerted the police and spoke of a long gun.
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The emergency services, who came with a helicopter and several service dog handlers, found the youth and seized the weapon, which looked "deceptively real".
The youngster was handed over to his parents.
He is now threatened with a lawsuit for violating the weapons law.
The police warned against carrying these "toy guns" with you as they could easily be mistaken for real firearms.
mjm / dpa