Police will search under a
Wellington house for more artillery shells following the controlled
explosion of an 1860s explosive today.
Around
50 properties near McAllister Park, in Wellington, were evacuated and
part of Adelaide Rd was shut as a precautionary measure before the
detonation by the Defence Force bomb disposal unit.
Among
those evacuated were residents of a nearby retirement home and a group
of people attending a funeral nearby were also delayed in leaving the
service.
Senior Sergeant Hamish Milne said
builders found a 6 pound artillery shrapnel shell commonly used around
1860 while they were doing strengthening work on a Boyd Tce house two
days ago.
Police were notified this morning and called in the Defence Force.
Snr
Sgt Milne said the black powder inside the shell did not break down
over time and the decision was made to destroy it in a controlled
detonation.
The shell was buried in a drainage ditch under sand bags in the park before it was destroyed.
Snr
Sgt Milne did not know how the shell came to be under the house, but
urged anyone who finds other munitions to leave them where they are and
call police.
3 News
Online Reporter Friday 02 Aug 2013 2:05p.m
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