Army explosive experts have removed a grenade from Leicester city centre after charity workers discovered it in a donation box on Tuesday afternoon. The find at an Age UK warehouse prompted police to close multiple roads and deploy military specialists to ensure public safety.
Staff at the Age UK furniture warehouse on Gladstone Street found the grenade just after 2:05pm while sorting through boxes from a house clearance. A spokesperson for Age UK Leicestershire and Rutland told LeicestershireLive: «It must have been a shock for the staff who discovered it.»
Leicestershire Police immediately established cordons and closed several roads, including Wharf Street South between the Crafton Street West and Eldon Street junctions. The closures caused significant traffic disruption during rush hour in areas near the city centre.
Military Response
The Army’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit was called to assist officers. A Leicestershire Police spokesperson said: «In the interests of safety, there are some road closures in place in the area, around a car park. The army’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit has been called to assist officers.»
Fire crews also attended the scene alongside police and the EOD team. Officers advised people in the area to stay away and, according to reports, told one journalist to «stay out of the line of sight».
Safe Removal
The EOD team successfully removed the grenade from the area. A Leicestershire Police spokeswoman confirmed: «The EOD have removed the item from the area and the roads have now been reopened. Officers have thanked people in the area for their patience and co-operation.»
The grenade had been wrapped in a shoebox and stored in an attic before being brought to the warehouse as part of a house clear-out. The charity’s team had been sorting through boxes from the attic when they made the discovery.
All affected roads have since been reopened, and police thanked the public for their cooperation during the incident.
