Old Hand Grenades Discovered in French Onion Shipment to Netherlands
Dutch authorities discovered two hand grenades dating back to 1925 hidden within a delivery of onions originating from France, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) reported today.
The grenades were found en route to a factory in the northern Dutch province of Zeeland, prompting a request for examination by the OPCW. After investigation, the organization concluded the projectiles were “consistent with pre-1925 French and German manufactured old chemical weapons,” though the specific chemical fill could not be identified. This discovery highlights the ongoing presence of unexploded ordnance from past conflicts.
The reason for the weapons’ inclusion in the onion shipment remains unknown. Due to a lack of specialized destruction facilities within the Netherlands, the grenades will be transferred to a chemical dismantling facility in Poelkapelle, Belgium, for disposal. The Netherlands has expressed gratitude to Belgian authorities for their assistance in handling the potentially hazardous materials. For more information on chemical weapons conventions, see the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons website.
This unusual incident follows a separate event earlier this week where a three-year-old child in Washington state discovered a World War II-era hand grenade in a front yard; thankfully, no injuries were reported in that case. Authorities will continue to investigate the origin of the grenades found in the onion shipment and ensure their safe destruction.
