Live World War II grenades found in box bought at estate sale

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 14 Oct, 13:33 · Archive

A Texas man found six live World War II-era grenades in a box purchased at an estate sale in Austin.

A man in Austin, Texas found six live World War II-era grenades in a box he had purchased at an estate sale. He noticed the explosives whilst rummaging through the boxes and alerted police. The Austin Police Department responded on Monday, with patrol officers quickly securing the scene and setting up a perimeter to keep neighbours safe.

The bomb squad confirmed the grenades were live and active, containing explosive material. A photograph released by police shows at least three loose US Mk 2 fragmentation grenades, known as 'pineapples' because of their grooved cast-iron bodies. The box also appeared to contain shipping tubes and containers, including one marked for an M21 practice grenade. According to a police spokesperson, the grenades appeared to date to World War II and were in good condition for their age.

Bomb squad personnel assessed the devices using X-ray examination before conducting render-safe procedures to eliminate potential hazards. Police said there is no ongoing investigation. The department praised the bomb squad's expertise, noting that 'handling 80-year-old explosives with unknown stability is dangerous, precise work'. Police advised the public to refrain from touching or moving military ordnance and to allow trained professionals to handle any such devices discovered.

How it is being reported

• Live WWII-era grenades found in box bought at estate saleMultiple live grenades dating back to World War II were discovered in a box purchased at an estate sale in Austin, Texas, police said.CBS News · 14 Oct, 13:10
• Texas man finds live World War II grenades in box he bought at estate sale, prompting bomb squad response“Handling 80-year-old explosives with unknown stability is dangerous, precise work, and they do it with the professionalism this city counts on.”New York Post · 14 Oct, 06:01

In this story: Austin · Austin Police Department · Texas

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