Sappers have secured an unexploded artillery shell found by a group of children in Bełżec (Lublin Voivodeship). Unaware of the danger, the kids carried it in front of the block where they live. Most likely, the unexploded ordnance comes from the WWII era.

On Monday (September 5), children playing outside in Bełżec found an artillery shell. They decided to carry it in front of the block of flats where they live.

"One of the residents saw it and called the police," says Małgorzata Pawłowska from Tomaszów Lubelski County Police.

Most likely a WWII-era shell

A police car was dispatched to the scene and the officers said the found ordnance was an artillery shell, most likely from the WWII era.

"The officers secured the area until the arrival of a specialised sapper-miner group. Evacuation was not necessary," Pawłowska said.

She also cautioned that in case of finding an object resembling a grenade or any other unexploded ordnance, one should not touch, move or try to defuse it.

"Any tampering with unexploded ordnances can trigger its detonation. It can then result in body injuries or death of people in the vicinity," the police officer said.