Police in Kensington, P.E.I., shut down a municipal building after a local resident brought in a suspected WWII-era mortar. Public deemed safe.
Suspicious Object Prompts Building Closure
A municipal building in Kensington, Prince Edward Island, was temporarily shut down Monday evening after a resident brought a potentially hazardous object—later identified as a suspected Second World War mortar—to the local police station.
The discovery led to the postponement of a scheduled town council meeting and a police lockdown of the surrounding area, including a nearby Tim Hortons drive-through.
Response from Police and Officials
The incident occurred around 7:00 p.m. at the municipal building located at Victoria Avenue East and Woodleigh Drive. Kensington Police Chief Landon Yuill confirmed that the item was likely a WWII-era mortar and was treated as potentially dangerous due to the possibility of it being live munition.
While no injuries were reported and there was no immediate risk to the public, police evacuated the area and sealed off streets as a precaution.
Federal Coordination Underway
Local authorities have since been in contact with the Department of National Defence (DND) in Gagetown, New Brunswick, to determine the safest method of removal and disposal. The DND’s guidelines advise against touching or disturbing any object suspected to be unexploded ordnance and emphasize immediately notifying police.
Council Meeting Rescheduled
The town council meeting originally set for Monday night was rescheduled for Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. Town officials informed residents of the delay via social media, citing “unforeseen circumstances” and urging them to avoid the affected area.
Public Safety Guidelines Reinforced
In light of the event, officials are reminding the public to follow DND protocols if they encounter suspicious military artifacts. These include not handling the object, marking its location, and contacting emergency services without delay.
Kensington, a town of approximately 1,800 residents, rarely sees such disruptions, but local authorities praised the swift response and cooperation between police and national defense officials.
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