They couldn't believe this had happened. Not because they couldn't imagine it... even though it took some great amount of imagination to develop such a cleverly devious plot, but because it has happened now.

The thought of this happening in 2014 was much earlier than many would have predicted. Any average team would have thought this scenario to be a reality in the much more distopian cyber-punk fantasy of 2020... but 2014.

It's still amazing that the device didn't raise red flags. The fact that she was able to get it through security is surprising and understandable at the same time.

There was no way the average security agent would have any clue what he was looking at, but even then, her demonstration would fool even the most skeptical security officer.

Witnesses and video show how her demonstration of the device marvelled all that saw it. While painted nicely, looking sleek and high tech - it's output seemed innocent enough. The device is an engineering masterpiece. Hard to believe that this much thought and innovation went into a plot so vile and base.

It's unclear if this is the only device - but given the age we live in, surely the plans are already in the hands of every major organized crime group on the planet... At least that is how we should operate.

The demonstration, using the touch screen on the side of the device to select from a vast list of printable toys and do-dads was impressive. The speed with which it output the objects was unreal. The quality unmatched.

Nobody would have suspected what was to happen next. She got into the conference, past both the physical and electronic scrutiny and quelled any suspicion of her intent.

What exactly happened next is still be investigated, but as best as we know, she was able to take the device into the storage room, complete her print and return to the conference floor to carry out the assassination. The gun printed was a marvel. A multi-shot, 100% printed mini rail-gun. The full body printed from the very machine that would then provide its power and ammunition.

At first, there was so much confusion, the rail-gun was relatively silent, and even though the PM was shot in front of nearly a thousand spectators, the deadly near-silence of the railgun prevented immediate involuntary reactions the crowed would have to any other gun.

This was different, a new era, one of those events where you know the world has changed and will never go back.

The device's ability to print out a fully working, multi-shot railgun in a matter of minutes and for that weapon to then be able to be used within minutes of being produced to assassinate one of the most prominent leaders in the world amidst the most advanced security governments can provide is truly a game changing event.

The assassin, while an unassuming, yet beautiful woman in her early 30s is believed to come from the Balkans. A region with a long history of controversial relations with Russia. While plots against Putin may have been considered in the past - it was not thought that there would actually be any credible threat coming from this region, and certainly never any threat as technologically advanced or innovative as this successful plot against him.

It's only been hours now since Putin was assassinated - but the repurcussions from this event will be massive, swift and likely extreme.

3D printing of conventional guns has been hotly debated in the last two years - but this, this is on a whole new level. There are already talks of licensure and control of designs, supplies and media. There is no way to track plastic and no way to regulate it. Governments are in a panic as to how to deal with this now.