The bomb squad was called in when military-type bags containing empty assault rifle magazines were found abandoned near the old station on Friday morning.
The bomb squad was called in when military-type bags containing empty assault rifle magazines were found abandoned near the old station on Friday morning.
A worker mowing the lawn behind St Clemen’s Anglican Church, next to the station, called Hi-Tec Security when he came stumbled upon the bags late on Friday morning. Officers from the Tactical Response Unit arrived within minutes but, seeing what might be live ammunition inside, the officers called in Lieutenant-Colonel Coetzee, from the police bomb squad. Coetzee confirmed there was no threat and that the magazines were, in fact, empty.
Kenny Knoetze, one of the Hi-Tec officers, said, “We don’t know if the bags were stolen, or what. All the equipment was still inside.” Apart from five empty assault rifle magazines, there were also water bottles in the bags, and a sleeping bag.
Coetzee, who recognised the bags as army issue, said they had not expected to find any dangerous items, because soldiers were only supposed to carry explosives in operational areas. He explained that Hi-Tec officers were trained to avoid handling potentially explosive items. Coetzee has been working for the bomb squad since 1981.
Glenn Thomas, a warden at St Clemens Anglican Church, believed the bags might be linked to the previous day’s military parade on High Street. He thought the bags might have been intentionally thrown on to the church’s grounds by someone who knew the back yard was inaccessible. The bags would remain in the custody of Hi-Tec Security until the owners identified themselves, the company said.
