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| Shotgun found near terrorist jail | Shotgun found near terrorist jail |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Three boys have found a gun hidden near a jail housing some of the UK's most dangerous terrorist inmates. | Three boys have found a gun hidden near a jail housing some of the UK's most dangerous terrorist inmates. |
| They discovered the sawn-off shotgun and cartridges in undergrowth about 300m (1,000ft) from Durham's Frankland Prison, near the remand centre. | They discovered the sawn-off shotgun and cartridges in undergrowth about 300m (1,000ft) from Durham's Frankland Prison, near the remand centre. |
| Police said there was no evidence the weapon was linked to the prison, but investigators are keeping an open mind. | Police said there was no evidence the weapon was linked to the prison, but investigators are keeping an open mind. |
| Forensic tests will now be carried out to establish if the gun has been used in a crime, said the Durham force. | Forensic tests will now be carried out to establish if the gun has been used in a crime, said the Durham force. |
| The discovery was made in woodland between Finchale Avenue and Beech Close on Thursday afternoon, when the boys were building a tree house. | The discovery was made in woodland between Finchale Avenue and Beech Close on Thursday afternoon, when the boys were building a tree house. |
| Treena Stewart, one of the youngsters' mothers, said: "They were playing in the woods, making a den. They found the bag, had a look inside and to their surprise there was a shotgun. | Treena Stewart, one of the youngsters' mothers, said: "They were playing in the woods, making a den. They found the bag, had a look inside and to their surprise there was a shotgun. |
| Hussein Osman is one Al-Qaida prisoner serving life at Frankland | |
| "They came running in to tell me and obviously I thought they were exaggerating but when I looked inside there it was, with balaclavas and ammunition. | "They came running in to tell me and obviously I thought they were exaggerating but when I looked inside there it was, with balaclavas and ammunition. |
| "We're very proud of the boys because obviously a gun is very exciting to them, but they had the sense not to touch it. | "We're very proud of the boys because obviously a gun is very exciting to them, but they had the sense not to touch it. |
| "It's the first time anything like this has ever happened and I hope it's the last time." | "It's the first time anything like this has ever happened and I hope it's the last time." |
| Armed police sealed off the scene and a detailed search was carried out by officers and police dogs, though nothing further was found. | Armed police sealed off the scene and a detailed search was carried out by officers and police dogs, though nothing further was found. |
| A Prison Service spokeswoman said the investigation was a matter for police as the weapon was found outside the jail grounds. | |
| Several hundred residents live in the village of Brasside, close to the high-security facility. | |
| Among the prison's inmates are terrorists Hussain Osman and Dhiren Barot, both serving life sentences for Al-Qaida plots to attack UK targets, including London's transport network. |