A cargo of fake mobile phones which fire bullets has been intercepted on its way from the Balkans to Britain, France and Germany.

The mobile case contains four chambers that hold .22 ammunition. Pressing the keypad primes and triggers the firing mechanism. The chamber is selected by hitting buttons 5,6,7 or 8 and then the 'Connect' button fires the weapon. The weapon is fatal at close range.

The bullets are detonated using high tension springs, which can be cranked to the bottom of the casing using a winding mechanism disguised as an aerial.

"You cannot tell these mobile phones are weapons. It is only when you have one in your hand that you realise they are heavier," Birgit Heib of the German Federal Criminal Investigation Agency told the Daily Telegraph newspaper.

A Croatian carrying ten of the mobile phone guns was intercepted by Swiss police. But thousands of the weapons are thought to be in circulation in western Europe. German police are even being advised to draw their weapons if a suspect pulls out a mobile phone.

30 November 2000 New Scientist Online News

-- JLS in NW AZ (stalkingbull007@AOL.com), November 30, 2000

Answers

So, JLS, is this for real, or is it a joke? (I don't have a cell phone, nor do I want one, so my interest is academic!)

-- Kathleen Sanderson (stonycft@worldpath.net), November 30, 2000.

So if you sign up for the extended service options can you get a full clip?

-- Doreen (animalwaitress@excite.om), November 30, 2000.

Hi Kathleen, I believe this to be a responsible science news site. The news item is from todays release. The address is: http://www.newscientist.com/

-- JLS in NW AZ (stalkingbull007@AOL.com), November 30, 2000.

'Tis true. I read it a couple of weeks ago from another news source.

-- Notforprint (Not@thekeyboard.com), November 30, 2000.

Thats one way of cutting your phone bill in 1/2.

-- renee oneill{md.} (oneillsr@home.com), November 30, 2000.

Doreen, that's a good one, still lol, the truck drivers will all want one of these! Take care of road rage in a hurry! Annie in SE OH.

-- Annie Miller (annie@1st.net), December 01, 2000.

Finally a phone that is useful. I want one.

-- (wildheart@ekyol.com), December 01, 2000.

Sounds like the perfect road rage ender!

-- Soni (thomkilroy@hotmail.com), December 03, 2000.