The bomb squad was called to a Canberra police station after a man presented two mortar shells - including one that was potentially live - to officers on Friday.
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Police said in a statement that one of the shells brought into the Woden Police Station about 10am still had the pin attached, while the other one had a missing pin and was potentially “live”.
Station Sergeant Steve Hogarth closed off the station’s car park to store the shells and contacted the Bomb Response Team, who arrived shortly before 11am.
The elderly man who brought in the shells told officers they had been in his possession since 1975 and had been part of a collection of World War II “souvenirs” belonging to his late father, an ex-serviceman.
The shells, believed to be Italian mortars, were secured and removed by members of the army by about 11.30am.
Station Sergeant Hogarth said people with similar live ammunition items should contact police.
“Transporting of live ammunition is dangerous and fortunately in this instance no one was harmed,” he said.
“We will attend your location, assess the situation and call out the appropriate response, as required.”
If you have any old munitions, please contact ACT Policing on 131-444 to have them safely disposed of.