Overview
- A local man found a suspected Second World War artillery shell on a St. George's beach on Wednesday and voluntarily handed it to Bay St. George RCMP.
- Officers moved the munition overnight to the Stephenville detachment on Oregon Drive where it is being continuously monitored and the station is closed to the public.
- RCMP conducted door-to-door warnings in the surrounding area and offered residents voluntary evacuation if they felt safer leaving their homes.
- Defence explosive-ordnance disposal experts were expected to arrive from Nova Scotia to determine if the device is active and to carry out safe disposal if required.
- The find is tied to the area’s history as a former U.S. military base from 1941 to 1966 and officials stress that old ordnance can be dangerous and should not be handled.