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Officials search Charles River after two pieces of unexploded military equipment found in one week
The “precautionary” sweep didn’t turn up any more ordnances, but other materials were found.
Massachusetts State Police searched the Charles River in Needham on Monday after fishers made two separate discoveries of unexploded ordnances in recent days.
While no additional pieces of military equipment were located, divers recovered several other materials, State Police said in a statement.
“Divers recovered a large elongated tank containing an unknown substance,” the statement read. “MSP Bomb Squad personnel and state hazardous materials specialists determined the tank contained no hazardous materials and it was disposed by the Needham Department of Public Works.”
The Needham Police Department said Monday morning the sweep was “precautionary.” Pedestrians were asked to avoid the area and “not congregate” there during the search.
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The search follows the discoveries of two pieces of unexploded ordnances by magnet fishers on March 1 and March 6.
The first discovery was made near the Kendrick Street bridge on the Newton town line by Sean Martell, who was live-streaming on YouTube when he found the equipment. The bomb was detonated by the State Police bomb squad, and its disposal was heard in town, Boston.com previously reported.
The second ordnance was pulled from the Charles River in the same week as the first and determined to be a “military projectile in severely deteriorated state.” Its disposal was also heard in the town, prompting an emergency alert warning residents of the imminent explosion.
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The State Police Underwater Recovery Team and Bomb Squad, Massachusetts Environmental Police, and the Needham Fire and Police Departments participated in Monday’s search, which included divers and a remotely operated vehicle.
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