Fake grenade was nothing “untoward” say police

Twinburn resident Johnny McKeown with the "grenade" shaped object he found buried in soil after striking it with an axe, which was desribed as "nothing untoward" by police.

Army technical experts were tasked to the Twinburn area near Monkstown following the discovery of the object that looked like a grenade.

Johnny McKeown was carrying out some gardening at his property when he uncovered the ‘grenade’ in his garden after he struck it with an axe.

However despite evacuations and concerns, the object was described by a police as being “nothing untoward” and it was a fake.

The 'grenade' found at Twinburn Road on Saturday, which police have described as "nothing untoward".

Speaking to the Newtownabbey Times when waiting on police to arrive at the scene, Johnny said: “I was using the axe to cut at some roots and I hit something hard, I thought it was just a brick but when I looked again it appeared to be a grenade.

“I thought it was just a toy but when I lifted it, I noticed it was really heavy.

“The axe had taken a chunk out of the side, its hard to believe it’s not something you expect to find lying in your garden.”

Johnny showed the grenade shaped object to his wife Annya and his neighbours who decided it was best to call the police.

Annya reported the find and when officers arrived they evacuated residents from nearby properties and cordoned off the street for Army Technical Officers.

A police spokesperson described the object as “nothing untoward” when contacted by the Times, they said it was a “fake.”