Mystery surrounds live mortar bomb found at Verulam scrapyard

Mystery surrounds the origin of a live mortar bomb that was recovered at a scrapyard in Verulam.

Police and security companies were called to the Pinewood Road, Ottawa scrapyard recently after employees, who had been sifting through a pile of scrap metal that had arrived from Ballito, made the discovery.

The premises and neighbouring businesses were evacuated until the arrival of the police bomb disposal unit.

SAPS spokesman Colonel Robert Netshiunda said police in Verulam had responded to reports of a mortar bomb that was found at a scrapyard in Ottawa on Thursday August 3.

“The Bomb Disposal Unit of the South African Police Service was summoned to the scene and their assessment confirmed that it was an illuminating mortar bomb, however, the area was declared safe. The bomb was seized and will be procedurally be subjected to destruction. No injuries were reported,” said Colonel Netshiunda.

He said the origin of the mortar was yet to be established.

“We are trying to establish where this mortar came from. Civilians can only be in possession of any explosives if they are properly licensed,” said Colonel Netshiunda.

Reaction Unit South Africa’s (RUSA) Prem Balram said they were called to the scene and arrived there together with the Verulam SAPS and Metro Police and immediately began evacuating people.

“Disaster was narrowly averted as the mortar was still active and had it been crushed (and not sifted by the scrapyard employee), it would have exploded and caused damage in a 100m radius,” said Mr Balram.

He said a mortar, such as the one recovered, was used for military exercises and warfare and was not legal for any civilians to be in possession of it.

Mr Balram said this is the second such mortar that they have been alerted to in the past two years.