Naval ordinance experts were summoned when an unexploded World War II hand grenade was discovered at a Bang Saray construction site.
Maj. Sorasak Rakthrong of the Royal Thai Navy’s bomb squad led a team of sailors to remove the MK 2 fragmentation grenade from the site of an under-construction hotel in Huay-tu March 29. No one was injured.
The ancient grenade, phased out of use by the U.S. military in the 1950s, had its pin pulled, but had failed to go off. Officers cordoned off the area until the bomb could be defused and secured.
The Royal Thai Navy’s bomb squad begins the process of defusing an unexploded World War II hand grenade (inset).
Construction manager Wuthirattapakorn Kaewkhuang said he discovered the explosive at the edge of the site during a routine inspection.
Police believe a troublemaking youth may have thrown the bomb and speculated there was no intent to harm anyone, as the area was deserted. Naval officers, meanwhile, will try to determine how such old munitions ended up in circulation.
