At about 4:30pm yesterday NT Police were called to a Darwin Beach after receiving a report of an unexploded grenade.

A 61-year-old man reported he had found the suspicious item while walking on Vestys Beach in Fannie Bay, before removing it and placing it in a safe location and calling police.

NT Police and an Australian Defence Force (ADF) Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) operator attended the scene and cordoned off a section of mangroves adjacent to the car park.

The object was identified by the ADF EOD operator as a Charge Demolition Scare 1 LB MK AN1 which had failed to function. These item are used by the navy to prevent divers operating in an area and are similar in function to a high explosive grenade.

The explosive item was removed by Australian Defence Personnel for later disposal.

Duty Superintendent Bob Rennie urged the public to exercise caution and avoid moving these types of objects at all costs.

"Please do not move suspicious items; mark the exact location of the object and immediately call police, who will in turn alert the Military".

Media Contact:
Rickie Scoot
8922 3185