Local News

Police: Magnet fisherman pulls live explosive from the Charles River

He caught a live one: The state bomb squad detonated an unexploded mortar Friday night after a live-streaming magnet fisherman reeled in the shocking catch.

March 2, 2024

1 minute to read

A magnet fisherman made a startling discovery while scouring the Charles River in Needham on Friday night — a live explosive.

Needham police responded to the Kendrick Street bridge on the Newton town line after the fisherman notified them about the unexploded ordnance.

NBC Boston identified the fisherman as Sean Martell, who operates the YouTube channel Brockton Magnet Fisher. Martell was live-streaming on his channel when he pulled the rusty bomb from the waters and placed it on the sidewalk.

“What is that? Oh no, that’s a bomb, guys. That’s a mother freaking bomb,” Martell exclaimed after pulling the object from the river. “That’s a bomb guys. Holy cow! I just found a freaking mortar. That is crazy.”

Police and firefighters from Needham and Newton responded to the site, along with the Massachusetts State Police bomb squad. Officials detonated the device nearby.

“[Officials] have since determined the ordnance will need to be disposed of. It will be disposed of at the Needham / Dover / Wellesley line. You may hear it in town,” Needham police said in a public alert on Facebook just after 7:30 p.m.

Police said Kendrick Street was open, and there was no threat to the public. The incident appears to be isolated.

Alarmed residents said they heard the detonation and expressed gratitude to local police for their quick response time.

“Just heard it — that was pretty loud! Wow! Well handled NPD et al,” wrote one person. Another person said they heard a “loud bang. Must have been a big bomb!”

Martell also pulled out a gun with a broken trigger guard. He says he enjoys removing metal from local waters to help the environment.