Reports of firearms produced by thugs son abused (8)
I believe the answer is:
gunshots
'reports of firearms' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are plural nouns, I cannot understand how they can define each other.
'by thugs son abused' is the wordplay.
'by' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'abused' is an anagram indicator.
'thugs' put after 'son' is 'sonthugs'.
'sonthugs' with letters rearranged gives 'GUNSHOTS'.
'produced' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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