4.10pm
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Acting Inspector Luke Cole from Griffith Local Area Command said defence department Explosive Ordinance Demolition personnel had attended the scene and declared the WWII-era grenade to be “inert”.
“The device has been secured and they are on their way back to Canberra,” Acting Inspector Cole said.
It is unknown what will become of the grenade.
An investigation into how the grenade came to be on Banna Avenue is underway, Acting Inspector Cole said.
“Inquiries are continuing and we would ask anyone with information to come forward and call Griffith police on 6969 4299 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000,” he said.
“Police appreciate the community’s cooperation and understanding that Banna Avenue was closed for quite some time today.”
3.15pm
Two men believed to be from the Bomb Squad, driving a white Nissan Patrol, have removed the grenade from Griffith’s main street, ending a tense six-and-a-half hour wait for businesses, residents and police.
Shortly after 3pm the men, wearing blue army fatigues, were let into the exclusion zone. They removed equipment from the back of the vehicle and inspected the grenade, one of them laying on his belly with his face inches from the device.
The grenade was picked up, inspected, handed to the other man and inspected once more before they put it into a metal container and left.
Banna Avenue is once again open to the public.
2.40pm
The grenade was not stolen from the nearby war memorial, police say.
2.30pm
Richard Rudkin from The Roastery, which was inside the exclusion zone, was upset that Zecca, directly opposite, was allowed to stay open. Zecca is on the corner of Banna Avenue and Kooyoo Street.
“It's only a bloody grenade,” he said.
“I’m no ballistics expert (but) it’s not likely that a grenade will explode on its own, it’s not likely to self-combust.”
Mr Rudkin said the closure had cost the business “thousands of dollars”.
“How can they do that to one business and allow another to trade?” he said.
2.10pm
A number of Banna Avenue businesses have expressed their frustration that they were evacuated, while others continue to operate, with customers entering via Banna Lane.
1.30pm
Here is another photo of the live grenade in a carpark in the middle of Banna Avenue. It can be seen on the right hand side of the photo near the bin. The bomb squad are expected to arrive in Griffith at 3pm.
12.36pm
A 75-year-old woman who was born in Griffith was shocked to hear about the discovery of a live grenade in Banna Avenue.
“Oh my god,” she said.
The woman said she had never heard of anything like that happening in Griffith before.
12.30pm
The reader who alerted The Area News to the closure of Banna Avenue on Thursday morning said it was unsettling to discover she nearly ran over a bomb.
The young woman, who asked not to be named, went into The Roastery to buy coffee about 8.40am. She said there were a number of police cars parked in the area, but thought it was "just the morning coffee run".
"Everyone was so calm, I thought maybe something had happened overnight," she said.
"I didn't think there was any danger.
"When I left about 10 minutes later they had closed off the road and were directing traffic."
12.20pm
Inspector John Wadsworth from Griffith Local Area Command said police has send photos of the grenade to the Bomb Squad and the army, who believed it to be an older hand grenade.
“They’re not happy we can safely remove the device in any way so they’re coming to remove it,” he said.
The exclusion zone police had established was based on advice they had received, Inspector Wadsworth said.
“We would like to thank businesses for their understanding at this time,” he said.
“We realise it is an inconvenience and there is a loss of trade but safety has to come first.
“We don’t know the background of the grenade and we ask people to stay clear of the area at this time.”
12.15pm: Blooms the Chemist in the exclusion zone still remains open for people needing medicine. Entry is via the back in Banna Lane.
Noon: A Griffith resident said he had seen cigarette lighters that were made as replicas of the grenade before.
11.49am: Yambil Street in Griffith is bustling, with residents going about their regular business. Many residents appear to be unaware of the live grenade one street over and many continue to attempt to enter the exclusion zone.
11.30am
A Fairfax Media source says the grenade appears to be a “Mk II pineapple grenade”. He said the grenades were an American device commonly used in WWII, the Korean War and Vietnam War.
The grenade, which appears quite rusted, is probably still live, according to the source, who asked not to be named.
He said in active military use, grenades were considered safe unless the ‘pin’ was removed or damaged. The pin prevents the detonator from activating.
Mk II grenades were a fragmentation-type grenade developed at the end of WWI.
10.49am
“Lock your doors and stay inside,” says Councillor Dino Zappacosta.
“I’ve never heard of a live grendade in the whole of the Griffith Council area, let alone the CBD,” he said.
Councillor Zappacosta has lived in Griffith for 68 years.
He said it was devastating to have such horrible news in a community that is so used to peace and harmony.
“It’s terrifying, most terrifying,” Councillor Zappacosta said.
“Lock your doors and if travelling on the road, stay away.”
Griffith City Council confirmed operates CCTV cameras within the area. Access to the footage is via subpoena only except via police request.
10.30am
A plainclothes police officer with “Griffith CI” on his vest confirmed police are treating the grenade as live. He said they have called the bomb squad and they are expected to arrive within five hours. Banna Avenue is expected to be closed for at least eight hours.
Meanwhile, an envelope containing an unknown powder was discovered at Wagga City Council on Thursday morning.
Emergency services are on site and the situation is reportedly contained.
10.22am
A white Holden Commodore drove into the exclusion zone on the wrong side of the road despite police yelling at the driver to stop. The car stopped near the library and has since been removed.
9.54am
Police have told business owners on the ‘bottom block’ of Banna Avenue they may not be able to open for a while.
9am
A suspected live grenade was found on Griffith’s Banna Avenue about 8.45am Thursday.
According to Inspector John Wadsworth from Griffith Local Area Command, the grenade was discovered by a council employee in front of the Haggia Sophia kebab shop.
It is believed to be a WWII-era grenade.
Griffith City Library and nearby workplaces were evacuated about 9.15am.
Police have created an exclusion zone at either end of ‘bottom block’ and are waiting for Griffith City Council to set up barricades.
Police have called the bomb squad and it is believed the incident was referred to the army.