BBC published a report indicating that thousands of names and addresses belonging to users of Guntrader, a leading UK website for buying and selling firearms, have been published on the dark web.

The users' data was published after the website was subjected to a security breach. Police, including the National Crime Agency, are investigating the breach, and the South West Regional Cyber Crime Unit (SWRCCU) is leading the investigation.

BBC quotes a user saying the ‘security breach’ "seriously compromises my security arrangements for my firearms and puts me in a situation where me and my family could be targeted and in danger."

Guntrader.uk stated: "Around 100,000 customer records were stolen, but no information relating to gun ownership or the location of firearms was taken."

According to the report, "The British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) is urging its members to be vigilant around home security following the breach."

Guntrader's Simon Baseley said it was the first time in 20 years that an attempt to bypass the firm's security had succeeded.

"All the indications currently are that the breach was neither political nor commercial as there has been no attempt to extort money from either guntrader.uk or its users, or make other capital from the theft," he added to the BBC.