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Reports of two men in camouflage gear carrying what looked to be high-powered rifles led an RCMP helicopter, a tactical team, a canine team and several Mounties to surround a rural property south of Nanaimo on Wednesday night.

Once two brothers realized they might have attracted the heavy police presence, they walked over to the police blockade — without their guns — and told the officers they were playing an army game with non-lethal airsoft guns.

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It started when Karl and Tylor Lofstrom went into the forest across from their home in Cassidy to enjoy an activity they’ve done for years: shooting each other with airsoft guns while dressed in full camouflage gear.

As more sophisticated airsoft guns go on the market each year, they upgrade to the latest models, which look more and more convincing, said their mother, Linda Lofstrom.

“They look pretty serious … the guns look pretty real.”

After a few hours, Karl, 18, and Tylor, 23, walked home, taking the road instead of their usual route through a field. When they passed a group of people, one man asked if they were carrying real guns, Karl said. He explained that the weapons were airsoft guns and let the man hold one.