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Gently does it Members of the bomb squad assess the two World War II mortar shells. 30179
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War bombs alert
By Charlene Gatt
5th May 2009 11:08:22 AM
Gently does it Members of the bomb squad assess the two World War II mortar shells. 30179
POLICE received a shock of historic proportions last Wednesday when two World War II mortar bombs were delivered to Footscray Police Station.
Maribyrnong City Council workers had been clearing out a house in Coronation St, Kingsville, when they came across the two rusted shells in the shed.
The previous owner of the house is believed to have been a World War II veteran and had lived in the house for 60 years.
It is unclear whether the veteran has passed away or simply moved.
The workers picked up the shells with their bare hands and drove them to Footscray Police Station.
The shells were immediately transferred across the road to Ercildoune Reserve and the space was cordoned off with police tape and guarded until the bomb squad arrived.
Police feared one or both of the shells could have been live but close inspection revealed the shells were practice rounds filled with carcinogenic gas.
We didnt care about things like carcinogenic products in the 1940s.
The shells werent as dangerous as we first thought but they could well have been fully charged live rounds, Footscray Inspector Ian Geddes said.
Insp Geddes said the council workers were smart not to throw the mortars in the rubbish but should not have touched the rounds.
Theyve had the thought that these rounds are dangerous but they hadnt actually assessed the danger of putting them in the car.
What theyve done is very risky by transporting what they thought could have been an explosive.
These things are unstable, they might have been sitting there for the last 60 years and, had they had explosive in them, any movement could have caused an explosion.
Insp Geddes said the shells, which were designed to cause injury at close range, could have caused significant damage if they were live and detonated in a car or building.
He said swords and old rifles were common relics from war.
We get stuff like this from time to time, theres a lot of souvenir objects from World War II.
Insp Geddes said if anyone finds something they think may be explosive they should call the police straight away and the item should not be touched or moved.
Maribyrnong City Council workers had been clearing out a house in Coronation St, Kingsville, when they came across the two rusted shells in the shed.
The previous owner of the house is believed to have been a World War II veteran and had lived in the house for 60 years.
It is unclear whether the veteran has passed away or simply moved.
The workers picked up the shells with their bare hands and drove them to Footscray Police Station.
The shells were immediately transferred across the road to Ercildoune Reserve and the space was cordoned off with police tape and guarded until the bomb squad arrived.
Police feared one or both of the shells could have been live but close inspection revealed the shells were practice rounds filled with carcinogenic gas.
We didnt care about things like carcinogenic products in the 1940s.
The shells werent as dangerous as we first thought but they could well have been fully charged live rounds, Footscray Inspector Ian Geddes said.
Insp Geddes said the council workers were smart not to throw the mortars in the rubbish but should not have touched the rounds.
Theyve had the thought that these rounds are dangerous but they hadnt actually assessed the danger of putting them in the car.
What theyve done is very risky by transporting what they thought could have been an explosive.
These things are unstable, they might have been sitting there for the last 60 years and, had they had explosive in them, any movement could have caused an explosion.
Insp Geddes said the shells, which were designed to cause injury at close range, could have caused significant damage if they were live and detonated in a car or building.
He said swords and old rifles were common relics from war.
We get stuff like this from time to time, theres a lot of souvenir objects from World War II.
Insp Geddes said if anyone finds something they think may be explosive they should call the police straight away and the item should not be touched or moved.