A Texas resident purchased a box containing several live grenades dating back to the Second World War, leading to a temporary neighborhood lockdown and intervention by the Austin Police Department’s bomb squad. The individual discovered the explosives on Monday while sorting through items acquired at an estate sale.

According to a social media statement from the Austin Police Association, the grenades were “live and active,” necessitating careful and precise handling by bomb disposal experts. The post praised the bomb squad members for their professionalism and steadiness when dealing with decades-old explosives of uncertain stability. Police officers promptly secured the scene, established a perimeter, and ensured the safety of nearby residents while awaiting the arrival of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team.

The association did not disclose the identities of either the seller or the buyer. They emphasized that no criminal activity was involved in the incident and issued a cautionary message advising the public not to touch or move old military munitions, even if they appear inert. Instead, they urged individuals to immediately contact emergency services and allow trained specialists to manage potentially dangerous ordnance.

Local news outlet KLBJ identified at least three of the grenades as Mk 2 "pineapple" fragmentation grenades, which were extensively used by U.S. forces during World War II. These grenades, named for their textured exterior resembling a pineapple, were still in limited service with the U.S. Army and Marine Corps until the 1960s. Bomb squad technicians employed X-ray imaging to confirm the devices were live but determined they did not pose an immediate threat given the circumstances.

The incident underscores the ongoing risks posed by unexploded military ordnance decades after conflicts have ended. Similar cases have recently drawn attention in other countries, including the United Kingdom, where two large unexploded German bombs were found separately in Devon—one on a dredger and another at a construction site. Experts warned that such devices carry the potential to cause significant destruction if detonated.