Grenade found buried in Vancouver park safely detonated: police

CBC
·1 min read
About a dozen VPD officers and park rangers could be seen at Hinge Park Sunday morning, with parts of the park taped off, after an active grenade was found buried in a community garden. (Nav Rahi/CBC - image credit)
About a dozen VPD officers and park rangers could be seen at Hinge Park Sunday morning, with parts of the park taped off, after an active grenade was found buried in a community garden. (Nav Rahi/CBC - image credit)

Vancouver police had to deploy its explosives team after a woman dug up a grenade in a city park on Sunday morning.

A woman was digging in a small garden by Hinge Park, located near the seawall in Olympic Village, when she unearthed an "old grenade," according to a Sunday statement from the Vancouver Police Department (VPD).

Explosive technicians analyzed the grenade, which police say appeared active, and safely detonated it using a small explosive charge.

The park, which includes a playground and an off-leash dog park, was taped off for much of Sunday morning. Around a dozen VPD officers and park rangers could be seen.

A CBC News reporter in the area described hearing a loud bang shortly before 12:30 p.m. PT, with police telling another reporter that there was a "suspicious package" in the park.

Onlookers gaze at the taped off Hinge Park, located along a busy route by the seawall in Vancouver's Olympic Village.
Onlookers gaze at the taped off Hinge Park, located along a busy route by the seawall in Vancouver's Olympic Village.

Onlookers gaze at the taped off Hinge Park, located along a busy route by the seawall in Vancouver's Olympic Village. (Nav Rahi/CBC)

As of Sunday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. PT, the area has been reopened and police say there is no longer a risk to the public.

An investigation is ongoing, as police say it is unclear how long the grenade had been there or who put it there.