Mortar explodes as Pretoria scrapyard workers cut it up

daveza

daveza

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http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/2014/10/20/mortar-explodes-as-pretoria-scrapyard-workers-cut-it-up

A Pretoria scrapyard worker was killed and others are missing after a mortar believed to date back to World War II exploded as it was being cut up this morning.

The explosion saw emergency services cordoning off two blocks in Pretoria West as police bomb technicians raced to secure the scene and disarm what is believed to be other explosives in the scrapyard.

Pretoria West community policing forum chairman, Nagesh Chettey, said it appeared that several people had brought in a number of mortars.

"They go after the copper and brass compression cap.

"They were cutting it off when the mortar exploded and killed at least one person.

"There appears to be people who are definitely injured and some who might be missing," said Nagesh.

A policeman on the scene said that there were several mortars still lying around on the scene.

"It appears as though a number were brought to the scrapyard.

"The destruction is huge.

"The mortars that are here are big and appear to be 110mm mortars."

He said the bombs were often found along the Schuverberg hills bordering Atteridgeville and Saulsville which were used as a bombing range by the then South African Defence Force during WWII.

Emergency services have been unable to say how many are injured
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The Darwin is strong in this one.
 
There you go... Natural selection at work. Stupid should hurt.
 
rounds-1.jpg

Probably looked something like this... if I see one, I'll rather call emergency services and let them handle it.
 
The_Librarian said:
View attachment 159688

Probably looked something like this... if I see one, I'll rather call emergency services and let them handle it.
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Unless the Winged section at the back has already been removed.

That being said, My dad had 3 at his house that are being used as ashtrays. They came from the Angola war and they where duds. He got them from the army depot where he was stationed already had the blast cap and things removed before he took them. Most of the older folks should still have some of those around. The defused ones ofc from that time. The army threw them out and the soldiers used it for ashtrays at camp.
 
Not the first time something like that happened. couple of years ago something similar happened at a scrapyard near me.

Dumbass threw an explosive device at the ground to show people that it was safe...
He was wrong.
 
Not the first time something like that happened. couple of years ago something similar happened at a scrapyard near me.

Dumbass threw an explosive device at the ground to show people that it was safe...
He was wrong.
 
Gotta love our media outlets though, this is News24's take on this story

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Cannon-explodes-in-Pretoria-20141020

Pretoria - A cannon has exploded at a scrap metal dealer in Pretoria, according to reporters on Twitter on Monday morning.

According to Jacaranda FM, there was at least one casualty. Police and emergency personnel are on the scene.

“A primary school across the street confirms to have heard the explosion, but are not affected by the incident,” tweeted Jacaranda FM.

“Apparently three ancient cannons were sold to [the] scrap metal dealer this morning. As he tried to dismantle one, it detonated,” tweeted eNCA.

This is a developing story and further details will be published as it becomes available.
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A cannon is a very different beast to a mortar... I was struggling to understand how an ancient cannon would have exploded, but a mortar makes a fair chunk more sense. Also, who sells an ancient cannon as "scrap"
 
[video=youtube;dstGdAHGL30]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dstGdAHGL30[/video]
 
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