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Jihadi fighters in the Middle East are using Facebook to buy and sell heavy dutry weaponry , a new report has claimed.

Fighters in ISIS-linked regions in Libya are creating secret arms bazaars and hosting them on the massive social network. Because of Facebook's ability to create groups and to send secure payments through its Messenger application , it works as the perfect platform for illegal deals.

The weapons include heavy machine guns and shoulder-fired heat-seeking missiles. Anti-aircraft weapons can fetch up to £44,000 although many are listed without prices attached.

(Image: Facebook)

"The majority of items posted to the social media groups tracked in the database have no asking price. Rather, the items receive either private or public offers, which sometimes results in bidding contests," explains the Small Arms Survey Project , which commissioned the research.

"And while some sellers set asking prices, others do not offer a ‘suggested price’ until after bidding has begun.

"According to confidential sources, much of the trade takes place via private messaging or telephone conversations. Light weapons in particular appear to receive fewer public offers than small arms and ammunition."

(Image: facebook)

Most of the sales are focused around the large cities such as Tripoli, Benghazi and Sabratha. The researchers believe they are mostly handled by young men in their 20s and 30s. As well as buying guns to fight, many sales are also made by militias looking to get rid of weapons that are no longer needed.

Read more:Fears ISIS could blow up passenger jet with £50k missile launchers sold on Facebook

Closed Facebook groups are used to facilitate the sales - ranging in size from less than 400 to around 14,000 members.

Earlier this year Facebook introduced a ban on selling firearms and the social network says it has acted to shut down the groups after being made aware of them.

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"It's against Facebook's Community Standards to coordinate private sales of firearms, and we remove any such content as soon as we become aware of it," said a spokesperson in a statement from the company.

"We encourage people to use the reporting links found across our site so that our team of experts can review content swiftly."

And while the majority of sales are made through Facebook - unsurprising since it has by far the biggest user base - other social networks are also used.

WhatsApp, Instagram and the encrypted messaging service Telegram are all popular.