Ontario Provincial Police are reminding the public not to transport unexploded ordnance after a 77-year-old woman brought a Second World War-era hand grenade to the Ottawa detachment on Friday, July 10, 2026. The device was left outside the station while explosives experts secured it pending disposal by Canadian Forces personnel from Petawawa.
Incident Details
Const. Michael Fathi of the OPP's Ottawa detachment stated that the woman discovered the grenade and a second 'live' shell while cleaning her basement. She drove the items to the police station, where officers instructed her to leave them outside. 'You don't know what condition they're in, whether they can still explode,' Fathi said. 'You don't want to take chance.'
Police Response and Safety Advice
Fathi emphasized that residents should never bring suspicious explosive materials to a police station. Instead, they should call local police, who will dispatch trained experts to safely retrieve and dispose of the items. 'When I was posted at Kemptville, we had (explosives delivered to the post) several times,' he noted, underscoring the recurring nature of such incidents.
The grenade's exact model was not identified, but according to Wikipedia, the common U.S. Mk 2 hand grenade contains about 57 grams of TNT and can inflict casualties with shrapnel up to 45 meters away, 'which was often further than a soldier could safely throw it.' Fathi added that it is unclear where the explosives originated.
Call for Public Cooperation
Police urge anyone who discovers potential explosives to avoid handling or moving them. Contact your local police immediately to arrange a safe pickup. This ensures the safety of both the public and first responders.
