A resident in a Powys village was left “mortified” after the bomb squad was called out to his property to remove a 'non-lethal' grenade.

The Explosive Ordinance Team were called out Kallum Williams’ home in Llansantffraid-ym-Mechain on Wednesday (September 4) after he had concerns over a grenade in his home.

Mr Williams, who collects military memorabilia, took possession of a 20th Century Hungarian grenade but felt that he had to call the bomb squad after he found what he thought were irregularities.

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“I was mortified,” said Mr Williams. “I was just taking a look at it, as I had only just got it. I was just taking some detailed photos and it was only when I started unscrewing it, I heard something in it.

“It was factory sealed and it was filled to the line, so I was concerned that it was explosive.”

“I have had the specialist look over the rest of our stuff and it has been all passed as completely safe.”

Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed that the grenade in question was assessed by the Explosive Ordinance Disposal Team and was found to be “inert”.

After it was removed from Mr Williams’ home, it was then destroyed, which is standard practice.

A spokesperson for the force said: “Dyfed-Powys Police received a call at just after midnight on September 4 from a person who suspected he had a live military grenade in his possession.

“Officers attended with an explosive ordnance disposal team and the device – a small inert hand grenade – was destroyed in a controlled manner.”


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The dealers from where the grenade originally sourced from said that the grenade was never a risk to the public.

A spokesperson for the company said: “The Hungarian model of grenade in question is a non-lethal training grenade and can be bought by any adult in the UK.

“We are stringent in our checks and our quality control. We receive regular checks by the police and if an item even as so much as unexplained residue, it is either sent to a third party for assessment or it is destroyed.

“We know the source of these grenades, which are regularly sold across the world.”