Post-WWII Mortar Shell Found in Stanley Park

The unearthed mortar shell found at Stanley Park. (Photo Credit: Vancouver Police Handout)

A bomb squad was called into Stanley Park Thursday morning after a man found a historic mortar shell.

The man was using a metal detector in the park when he found the shell buried in the area of Brockton Oval. After he called 9-1-1, explosive technicians from Vancouver Police Department arrived, cordoning off the area to keep the public safe while they inspected the 3-inch-by-14-inch shell. Through their examination, the technicians determined that the shell was most likely a post-World War II mortar.

(Photo Credit: Vancouver Police Handout)

Vancouver Police say that the technicians carefully unearthed the mortar and put it in an explosive containment unit to transport it safely out of the park. They'll be taking the shell out of the city to a secure location, and once there, they'll use a calculated explosive charge to make the mortar safe.

“An explosive device can cause serious injuries or death if not handled properly,” says VPD spokesperson Sergeant Randy Fincham. “Anyone who finds an explosive device should not touch it and call their local police who will arrange to have the device properly disposed of.”

This discovery follows an unexploded Japanese balloon bomb that was found in Lumby in October.