Explosive discovered and defused at recycling company in Beringen

On Tuesday, around 11 a.m., employees discovered an explosive in a container at the recycling company 'Out of Use' in Beringen, in the Flemish province of Limburg. The local Beringen-Ham-Tessenderlo police were informed immediately after the discovery. A security perimeter was imposed on the company site. The Belgian army's Explosive Device Disposal and Destruction Service (DOVO) was called in order to retrieve the explosive safely.

The explosive device was found amongst a shipment of used airbags. In a comment to Flemish public broadcaster VRT, the company's Chief Operating Officer Yannick Adrainssens said that the whole incident was "outside our comfort zone'. Police are now investigating just how the explosive device ended up in the shipment of airbags. DOVO is often called on to deal with unexploded bombs in Belgium, especially old World War II munitions.

The explosive charge surfaced when employees were sorting goods. While waiting for DOVO to arrive, the company itself was able to store the explosive in a container which is considered to be explosion-proof. Out of Use is a recycling company specialising in electrical and electronic equipment, including car parts, airbags and electronic waste.

(BRV)

Illustration shows a demonstration by DOVO, the bomb disposal service of the Belgian army (not linked to this particular incident). © BELGA PHOTO ERIC LALMAND