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3-07-2024 11:19pm
Live Military Ordnance, Second One Found by Magnet Fishermen in Needham, is Detonated
Darlene Cancell
Editor
A second ordnance was found by people magnet fishing in Needham, announced Needham Police on March 6th, 2024, following its announcement days earlier of the discovery by magnet fishermen of a first military ordnance on March 1st.
Needham Police Department stated in a Facebook post on Wednesday, March 6th, “Today around 11:30 a.m., individuals were magnet fishing on Kendrick Street at the Newton town line. At this time, they were able to pick up what appeared to be an unexploded ordnance.”
Emergency response was provided by Needham Police, Needham Firefighters, and the Massachusetts State Police Bomb Squad. A controlled detonation was planned, and alerts were sent to warn the community to expect the sound of the detonation.
A few days earlier, on Friday, March 1st, magnet fishermen picked up an apparent unexploded ordnance from Charles River, also in the Kendrick Street area. It was approximately 12 inches long and 4 inches in diameter.
Needham Police noted that the fishermen placed the object on the sidewalk. Community members were warned that they might hear the object being detonated for disposal. The detonation was planned to take place at the Needham/Dover/Wellesley line.
Massachusetts State Police on Facebook described the object as “military projectile in a severely deteriorated state and in need of disposal.” MSP stated that the projectile was transported to the disposal site where it was safely countercharged.
MSP notes that its bomb squad “responds to hundreds of calls each year to examine suspicious or hazardous items – and render them safe when necessary.”
Magnet fishing is an activity in which participants use strong magnets to retrieve metal objects from bodies of water. It can be used to clear trash and junk from water, allow participants to fish without harming any animals, and offers a way to hunt for sunken treasure.
