When a resident of Austin, Texas purchased several boxes at a recent estate sale, the buyer expected antiques, not live military ordnance. While sorting through the items, the homeowner identified five objects that appeared to be World War II‑era grenades. Recognizing the potential danger, the resident immediately called 911.
Police response and bomb squad action
The Austin Police Association (APA) announced the discovery in an Instagram post earlier this month. Austin Police Department (APD) officers arrived quickly, established a perimeter around the property and called in the department’s bomb squad. Sgt. Issa Kafena, supervisor of the APD Bomb Squad, confirmed the devices were live and active.
“All ordnance… there’s an inherent danger to any and all of it, especially if it’s military ordnance,” Kafena told Fox News Digital. “It’s designed to hurt and kill people.” He added that, despite their age of roughly 80 years, the grenades could still cause serious injury if they functioned as intended.
Safe removal and disposal
The bomb squad recovered the five grenades and transported them to a secure facility where they were safely destroyed. Kafena emphasized that the public should never attempt to move or tamper with suspected explosives. “If you ever find it, don’t touch it, call 911 immediately and have the bomb squad come out and help address the situation,” he advised.
Why such finds happen
While the incident was described by the APA as an “unusual call,” Kafena noted that discoveries of old military explosives are not unheard of. “It’s more common than you think,” he said, citing the bomb squad’s annual workload of over 400 deployments, including 150‑175 call‑outs involving discovered military ordnance or equipment.
In central Texas, the bomb squad covers an area of about 8,400 square miles across ten counties, responding to incidents ranging from stray fireworks to historic munitions.
Other recent ordnance discoveries
Similar finds have occurred elsewhere. Last fall, a father and son uncovered more than 150 World War II artillery shells while metal detecting in a Czech forest, prompting a two‑day bomb‑squad operation. Earlier this year, Transportation Security Administration officers in upstate New York discovered a spent smoke grenade concealed inside an aerosol can in a passenger’s carry‑on bag.
These incidents underscore the importance of public awareness and swift cooperation with law‑enforcement when suspicious items are found.
Community safety reminder
Authorities urge residents to remain vigilant and report any unusual objects, especially those that could be military ordnance, to law‑enforcement without delay. Prompt reporting helps keep neighborhoods safe and allows trained professionals to handle potentially lethal devices.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
