However, before the bomb-disposal experts arrived, officers from the Police Commissariat in Kruszyn secured the discovery site. The Bolesławiec bomb-disposal experts from the 23rd ordnance-clearance patrol, commanded by Senior Warrant Officer Radosław Mazur, recovered six M-13 rocket projectiles for Katyusha rocket launchers. The recovered rockets were located near the riverbank. The projectiles dated from World War II and were most likely left behind by the Soviet army during the fighting that took place here. Despite the many years that have passed since the end of the war, unexploded ordnance and failed-to-explode munitions from that period are still being found in western Poland.
“At the site of the unusual discovery, the patrol inspected the bank of the Bóbr River and detected additional projectiles lying there. Since the water was between 1.5 and 3 metres deep and to ensure safety, additional forces were called in: bomb-disposal divers from the 8th Coastal Defence Flotilla in Świnoujście. Our patrols cooperate in recovering unexploded ordnance and failed-to-explode munitions from the depths of lakes and rivers, because a threat still remains there,” Senior Warrant Officer Mazur reported. The divers carefully searched the riverbed and, after identifying the explosive and dangerous objects, safely brought 17 rockets ashore.
“Because the discovery site was located in a bend of the river, where there was a strong current and dangerous undertows, the risk was considerable. We had to take special precautions,” described Senior Petty Officer Michał Jodłoski, the patrol commander. After the rockets were recovered, bomb-disposal experts from Bolesławiec took charge of them, transporting the projectiles to the training ground in Świętoszów, where they were then detonated.
“I appeal to residents that, if they discover similar materials, they must under no circumstances touch or pick them up. The discovery site should be marked and the police notified as soon as possible; officers will secure the area and call an ordnance-clearance patrol,” Senior Warrant Officer Mazur stressed.
Every item of unexploded ordnance or failed-to-explode munition should, in accordance with procedure, be removed within 72 hours of the report that a dangerous object has been found. If such objects are located in public places, the report is treated as urgent, and the ordnance-clearance patrol begins work almost immediately. Every year, bomb-disposal soldiers from the Black Division’s ordnance-clearance patrols consistently carry out numerous tasks in response to reports of “unexploded ordnance,” clearing areas as an emergency measure. In 2017 alone, they intervened nearly 360 times, recovering and destroying large quantities of various types of explosive and dangerous objects.