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The RCMP is helping Stephenville, N.L., residents who want to evacuate after a suspected military shell was discovered on a nearby St. George’s beach and turned over to police on Wednesday.
Police “just want to take every precaution just in case this thing happens to explode,” said Stephenville Mayor Bob Byrnes.
RCMP believe it’s likely a Second World War-era artillery shell, but are waiting for national military experts to confirm later today, said media relations officer Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey.
RCMP went door-to-door overnight and early Thursday morning near Oregon Drive in Stephenville, where the munition is being stored. Police say they warned people about the risk and are helping them voluntarily evacuate.
There are several apartments nearby the police detachment, said Byrnes.
He did not know how many people chose to evacuate.
‘Not a big bomb’
Byrnes said the man who found the potential shell picked it up and brought it to his house before turning it over to RCMP.
“It’s not a big bomb obviously, because I mean the person brought it to his house,” Byrnes said.
“It’s not something, you know, that if it did explode it’s going to wipe out a whole neighbourhood or anything.”
O’Donaghey said National Defence experts from Nova Scotia are coming to the town Thursday to determine if the device is active and dispose of it.
In the meantime, police say the item is secured and will be “continuously monitored.”
The detachment in Stephenville is closed to the public.
‘Absolutely terrifying’
Ashley Durley works at the Acadian Hotel, about 200 metres from the police station. She learned the news on Thursday morning.
“It was absolutely terrifying. I didn’t like hearing that news at all,” said Durley.
She said the police station was cordoned off when she came to work in the morning.
“I think it’s really cool because it is part of Newfoundland’s history and stuff, but it was a little bit too close to home for me.”
Don’t touch old military items, says mayor
A former United States military base was in the area between 1941 and 1966, said Byrnes. He says people have discovered “all kinds of things” buried there since the base closed.
Byrnes warned people not to touch items like this.
“As Newfoundlanders, we have a natural curiosity for this stuff,” he said, adding people may bring it home without realizing the potential dangers.
“I’m sure that guy who took it home to his house is getting a good telling off from his wife right now,” Byrnes laughed.
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