Mortar ShellA man using a metal detector in Stanley Park has located a relic military ordinance.

Around 9 a.m. yesterday, a man called 9-1-1 and reported that he had found what he believed to be a historical explosive device buried in the ground in the area of Brockton Oval in Stanley Park.

When VPD explosive technicians arrived, they determined that the 3-inch-by-14-inch shell was likely a post-World War II mortar. The mortar appeared to have been buried in the ground for quite some time and it is undetermined how the shell got there.

Mortar Shell 2The area was cordoned off to ensure that the public was not at risk while explosive technicians examined the shell. The mortar was carefully unearthed and deposited in an explosive containment unit for safe transportation out of the park. Technicians will be taking the shell to a secure location outside of the city where they will be using a calculated explosive charge to render the mortar safe.

“An explosive device can cause serious injuries or death if not handled properly,” says VPD spokesperson Sergeant Randy 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.”