A Manchester resident found something very old, and a little scary in her garage earlier today.
The resident, who lives on Nye Street, called the Manchester Police Department at 11:48 a.m. after finding a possible explosive device that was oozing a green substance. She was cleaning her garage and remembered that her late husband had given her the object, which she thought might be an old military weapon with explosive content.
Firefighters identified what appeared to be a vintage World War II-era mortar round that was one foot long. It was securely packed in the corner of the garage, and firefighters said there was no evidence of the item leaking recently.
The police and fire departments secured the area but decided there wasn’t enough risk to warrant evacuating the neighborhood.
A Connecticut State Police bomb technician came and removed the object to dispose of it.
The police department says the woman handled the situation appropriately and that anyone who finds a munition shouldn’t handle it, and instead should call 9-1-1 immediately.