Man finds post-WWII mortar in Stanley Park
Posted December 5, 2014 11:27 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – A man using a metal detector in Vancouver’s Stanley Park found himself in a potentially explosive situation after uncovering an old military mortar shell.
VPD Sergeant Randy Fincham says the man was in the area of Brockton Oval when he unearthed what appeared to be a post-WWII World War mortar.
When police explosive technicians arrived they determined the 3″ by 14″ shell had likely been under the ground for decades.
Police say it’s unclear how the shell got there, but one avenue they’ll explore is the nearby HMCS Discovery naval base.
The area was cordoned off and the mortar was carefully deposited in an explosive containment unit for transport out of the park.
“An explosive device can cause serious injuries or death if not handled properly,” says Fincham. “Anyone who finds an explosive device should not touch it and call their local police who will arrange to have the device properly disposed of.”
Technicians will take the shell to a rock quarry outside the city where they’ll explode the device to ensure it’s safe and then do further historical analysis.
