WEST WARWICK — A Rhode Island man magnet-fishing beneath the Main Street bridge on Thursday pulled up what authorities later identified as a mortar shell, setting off evacuations, traffic disruptions and a bomb squad response that ended in a controlled detonation.
Discovery and immediate response
According to police and witnesses, the man, identified by local media as Gerard Perreault, had been fishing with a magnet for less than 20 minutes when he hooked a roughly 1-foot-long object coated in muck and seaweed with a pointed end. He brought it up beneath the bridge, then called police rather than attempting to remove it himself.
Officers closed the Main Street bridge, snarling traffic on nearby West Warwick Avenue, while emergency personnel established a safety perimeter. The perimeter expanded as bomb technicians assessed the device; two nearby apartment buildings were evacuated as a precaution.
“Somebody found a bomb under the bridge,”
said West Warwick resident Holly Montero, reflecting the alarm in the neighborhood after the find. Montero told reporters she felt “pretty scared” and described residents reacting to the shutdown.
Identification and disposal
The fire department later identified the recovered item as a mortar shell, an explosive projectile. Bomb technicians removed the device from the scene, transported it to a secure location and detonated it safely, according to information released by local authorities.
Officials have not reported any injuries related to the incident.
Context and local reaction
Perreault, who said he has recovered explosive items from waterways before, advised others not to handle suspicious objects and to contact law enforcement. He told reporters that in July he pulled hand grenades from the water near Rocky Point — information he shared to underscore the danger of trying to retrieve ordnance.
“They’re the professionals. You don’t want to risk anything,” Perreault said, according to local reports.
Residents and commuters faced disruption while authorities worked to secure the scene. One witness described motorists and patrons at a nearby Dunkin’ as alarmed when streets were blocked off during the response.
- What was found: A mortar shell, roughly 1 foot long.
- Where: Beneath the Main Street bridge in West Warwick.
- Immediate actions: Bridge closure, evacuations of two apartment buildings, bomb squad assessment.
- Outcome: Device moved to secure location and safely detonated.
Timeline
| Timeframe | Action |
|---|---|
| Less than 20 minutes | Perreault magnet-fishing and hooks object |
| Shortly after discovery | Perreault calls police; bridge closed |
| During assessment | Perimeter expanded; two apartment buildings evacuated |
| Later | Device identified as mortar shell, moved and detonated at secure site |
Safety message for the public
Authorities and those involved in magnet fishing or recreational shoreline activity urge people to avoid touching suspicious metallic objects and to call emergency services immediately. The presence of unexploded ordnance in waterways and along shorelines remains a serious safety risk, and trained explosive ordnance disposal teams are equipped to evaluate and neutralize such threats.
West Warwick police, the fire department and bomb technicians coordinated the response. No further details about an investigation into the origin of the mortar shell were released Thursday.
The incident is a reminder for residents that even in everyday recreational pursuits, hazards can emerge. Officials reiterated the simple guidance offered by the man who found the device: do not handle it; contact the police.
Reporting for WE NEWS. Priya Nair contributed reporting.
