FBI still looking for assault rifles, other weapons stolen at U.S. Army facility amid heightened terrorism fears

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Jordan Westra takes aim using an M4 assault rifle before firing a warning shot at Camp Barcha in Helmand province, Afghanistan, on Oct. 12, 2009. That was the kind of rifle stolen from a U.S. military facility in Massachusetts last week.Reuters

Shortly after the Nov. 13 terror attack in Paris which killed over 120 people, weapons including assault rifles were stolen from a facility of the United States military in Worcester, Massachusetts, fuelling fears that these firearms could be used for more terrorist activities.

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker confirmed the burglary that occurred at an Army Reserve training and recruitment facility in his state last weekend during a State House press conference on Sunday afternoon.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is already helping authorities in Massachusetts in hunting down the burglars, and looking for the weapons that were stolen.

According to the Daily Beast, the stolen weapons include six M4 assault rifles, 10 pistols, and several long guns.

The incident took place in the midst of heightened security in Massachusetts following the deadly terror attack at a stadium, a concert area, and restaurants in the French capital.

The Islamic State (ISIS) jihadist organisation has praised the attack, prompting France to conduct waves of bombing runs on the militant group's stronghold in Syria.

FBI spokeswoman Kristin Setera nevertheless said so far there is no indication that the stolen weapons will be used for terrorism.

"We have entered those weapons into NCIC, a national database, and alerted our federal, state and local law enforcement partners," Setera said, as quoted by Fox News.

"We are collaborating with Massachusetts State Police, Worcester Police and others to locate and recover these weapons immediately," she added.

According to WFXT, the burglars seemed to have gone around the armoury first to take photos around the fence before breaking in.