Maine State Police Bomb Squad Deal With a Potential Grenade

The Maine State Police Bomb Squad was called to assess a possible grenade, found lying next to a dumpster.

Maine State Police Received a Report on Monday of a Potentially Explosive Device

It was approximately 5:30 pm on Monday when the Augusta Regional Communications Center received a report about a potentially explosive device.

The caller said they were near Number 1 Road in Limington and found what they believed was a grenade near a dumpster along the roadway.

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Calling for the police instead of touching or trying to move the grenade was the safest way this caller could have dealt with the situation.

Maine State Police Bomb Squad Deals With a Potential Grenade in Limington

When Troopers confirmed that the item was a potentially hazardous device, they called for assistance from the bomb squad.

Technicians responded to the scene and tried to x-ray the item, but they were unable to determine whether it was an active grenade or one that would not explode.

Maine State Police Bomb Squad Remotely Exploded a Grenade Found in Limington

Out of an abundance of caution, the item was countercharged on site and deemed safe.

To countercharge a potentially explosive device, bomb squad technicians will place a secondary, controlled explosive charge (such as C-4) directly onto it or next to it, and then detonate it remotely.

This is considered safer than attempting to move unknown potentially explosive devices.

Officials say the device closely resembles a military-style M67 hand grenade, but it had been altered.