Elite Royal Marines spark major security scare after losing assault rifle in Dartmoor national park

SA80 automatic rifle was misplaced during leadership course exercise

A major security alert was sparked by Royal Marines after they misplaced a deadly assault rifle during drills in a national park.

The weapon was lost in a military exercise conducted in Dartmoor national park.

The commandos alerted Devon and Cornwall police after they were unable to locate the SA80 automatic rifle, which is still missing.

The drill was stopped after the gun went missing and a fingertip search was carried out but to no avail.

A source told the Sun that losing a weapon is 'one of the worst things a marine can do' and that the worse case scenario would be if the weapon found its way into the hands of a criminal.