Landmines Checked as Luggage Cause Havoc at Airport

Salt Lake City, Utah A passenger aboard a commercial flight caused the delay of numerous flights after four landmines were found in his luggage at Salt Lake City International Airport. Transportation Security Agency (TSA) Officials say the landmines bought as souvenirs by a member of the military who had been doing training at a military base in Utah were inert. Although flights were delayed over 20 minutes during the initial response, the TSA does not plan to press charges against the passenger carrying the landmines and he was allowed to continue flying after it was confirmed that the landmines were indeed inert.

Late Artists Dynamite Stash Surprises Everyone

Santa Fe, New Mexico After a 76-year old artist passed away from natural causes, his family made a startling discovery while cleaning out his house - a paper bag filled with explosives. The artist reportedly purchased the explosives over 20 years ago for cutting and shaping metal into sculptors. The family member immediately called the police after recognizing what was in the bag.

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Explosives Stolen From Airport Screening Testing

Phoenix, Arizona Transportation Security Agency (TSA) officials at Sky Harbor Airport were caught by surprise when the explosive material slated for airport screeners testing was stolen. The explosives, reported as a 1-pound of material, were stored in a soft-sided cooler in a low-security area outside of the check point area when they were reportedly stolen. The police began an investigation and searched high and low for the explosives with no luck.

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Homeowner Finds Bomb in Backyard After Rain Storm

Oceanside, California A homeowner called police after finding what was described as a 'shiny piece of military ordnance' in his backyard. The item appeared after recent rains washed away ground cover. Oceanside police responded with technical support from the San Diego County sheriff's bomb squad. The munition was identified as an inert military practice bomb (exact type not reported). A search of the area did not reveal any other munitions related items.

UXO Found in Trash Bag in Residential Area

Oahu, Hawaii A landscaping crew clearing a cut tree found a plastic bag containing a mortar round. The crew called the Honolulu police to report the find. The police responded with technical support from a bomb disposal team. Nearby residents were evacuated as the technicians investigated the item. The munition, identified as a live mortar round, was transported to Schofield Barracks for proper disposal.

Authorities are unsure how the mortar round ended up in the area but suspect that someone discarded it there along with other household trash. A search of the area did not reveal any additional munitions.

Grenade Donated to Charity Causes Bomb Scare

Great Falls, Montana A worker at the Easter Seals-Goodwill donation center came across a grenade mixed in with a box of recently donated household goods. The manager of the center called the police to report the find. The police responded and evacuated the building before calling the Air Force EOD unit from Malmstrom Air Force Base for technical support. EOD responded and identified the grenade as a hollow inert training round. EOD confiscated the round for proper disposal since it was not owned by anyone. A search of the facility did not reveal any additional munitions. It is unknown at this time who made the donation and why.

Suspect Munition Items Found By Divers

Honolulu, Hawaii Divers inspecting the discharge pipe at the Kahe Power Plant discovered an item in the water that resembled a munition. The divers called the Honolulu Police to report the find and described the items as a five foot long cylindrical body with fins and a propeller.

The police responded with technical support from the bomb squad. As a safety precaution the surrounding area was sealed off while the bomb squad investigated. Thinking that the item was a torpedo, the bomb squad called the Navy for assistance in identifying the suspect munition. EOD identified the device as a directional buoy, not a munition item. The buoy was safely removed without incident.

High Explosives Found In Cemetery

New York, New York A volunteer working at the Marble Cemetery on East Second Street in lower Manhattan found a plastic bag containing explosives. The police responded and evacuated the nearby area while a bomb squad investigated. The bomb squad identified the explosives as six blocks of military grade C4 explosives. No detonators or blasting caps were found. The bomb squad safely removed the explosives for proper disposal.

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Explosive Charge Found During Road Expansion Project

Folsom, California A construction crew working on the Highway 50 expansion project between El Dorado Hills Boulevard and Bass Lake Road found an unexploded charge along the center divide. The crew called the police who responded with technical support from the bomb squad. The device was reportedly a decade old charge left over from a previous construction project that involved rock blasting. The highway was closed while the bomb squad safely removed the item for proper disposal.

WWII Era Practice Grenade Found Repacked With Explosives

Winder, Georgia An old WWII era hand grenade was found near the home of Eva Elder, the Barrow County Commissioner. The grenade was found in a ditch by relatives of the Commissioner near the end of the driveway. The Commissioner's family called the police to report the find. The police responded with technical support from the University of Georgia Police Bomb Squad. The bomb squad identified the munition as a WWII era practice grenade that had been re-packed with explosives. The police did not indicate the type of explosive filler used. An investigation is underway to determine how the munition ended up in the residential neighborhood. The sheriff's office reported that at this time there is nothing to indicate that the grenade was placed to threaten or harm the Commissioner.

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