Police revive ‘Don’t touch it, report it’ message

POLICE yesterday issued a warning to the public, urging them to be wary of explosive devices that are still lying at former shooting ranges and military bases from the pre-independence era.

“Don’t touch it, report it”, is the message Police have asked to be conveyed following two explosions in the north over the last few weeks. Yesterday, The Namibian reported that two young men were seriously injured when an F-1 hand grenade of former Soviet origin exploded in their possession at the Otjiu-East village in the Kunene Region.The men suffered severe stomach and leg injuries.Police also reported that on Christmas day, four goats were killed and six injured in a similar explosion at Ombumbuu village, west of Ruacana in the Omusati Region.The owner of the goats had picked up a grenade, not knowing what it was, and after trying unsuccessfully to cut it open with a panga, threw it in the direction of the goats.The owner, who was en route to an auction, was not injured.Contact numbers for Explosives Units in the regions are as follows: Kunene Region – 065 – 27 3148, Oshana Region – 065 – 223 6047, Ohangwena Region – 065 – 26 3022, Omusati Region – 065 – 25 1850, Oshikoto Region – 065 – 23 0012, Kavango Region – 066 – 25 5144, CaprivI Region – 066 – 25 1223Yesterday, The Namibian reported that two young men were seriously injured when an F-1 hand grenade of former Soviet origin exploded in their possession at the Otjiu-East village in the Kunene Region.The men suffered severe stomach and leg injuries.Police also reported that on Christmas day, four goats were killed and six injured in a similar explosion at Ombumbuu village, west of Ruacana in the Omusati Region.The owner of the goats had picked up a grenade, not knowing what it was, and after trying unsuccessfully to cut it open with a panga, threw it in the direction of the goats.The owner, who was en route to an auction, was not injured.Contact numbers for Explosives Units in the regions are as follows: Kunene Region – 065 – 27 3148, Oshana Region – 065 – 223 6047, Ohangwena Region – 065 – 26 3022, Omusati Region – 065 – 25 1850, Oshikoto Region – 065 – 23 0012, Kavango Region – 066 – 25 5144, CaprivI Region – 066 – 25 1223