A bomb squad rushed to the scene after two grenades were found close to a McDonald’s restaurant in England on Wednesday evening. After discovering two hand grenades in a van close to the eatery, Army bomb disposal experts were sent to defuse the explosives.
After the sighting in the British city of Birmingham in the West Midlands during the 5 p.m. rush hour on April 27, police sealed off the area.
While experts from the Royal Logistics Corps Bomb Disposal Unit raced to the scene, the area opposite a McDonald’s branch at the junction of The Meadway and Garretts Green Lane was blockaded by police.
The World War II grenades came from a house that earlier in the day had been cleared. Many items were loaded into a van. Later on, two grenades were spotted amongst the things in the vehicle, and police were called.
Police cars and a large truck marked “RLC Bomb Disposal” were shown in a photo taken by an onlooker from the McDonald’s parking. Also visible in the picture were police tape and a man in an Army uniform. The website of the regional newspaper, the Birmingham Mail, published the photo.
A West Midlands Police spokeswoman told Newsweek: “We were alerted to two grenades being found in a van on The Meadway at just before 5 pm. yesterday following an earlier house clearance. After an investigation, the grenades were ascertained “to be safe.” a cordon was put in place as a precaution until they could be assessed by the EOD [Explosive Ordnance Disposal]. They were established to be safe, and the cordon was lifted by around 8.30 pm. There were no suspicious circumstances. We thank everyone for their patience.”
An Army spokesman told Newsweek: “An Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal team was called out to Yardley North, Birmingham, at the request of West Midlands Police, and two grenades from the WWII era were safely removed.”
It is not clear if Mcdonald’s was evacuated.
