Bomb squads detonate apparent hand grenade found in SeaTac

SEATAC, Wash. — FBI and King County Sheriff's Office bomb squads detonated what appeared to be a hand grenade Monday afternoon, found in SeaTac.

Sgt. Cindi West with the King County Sheriff’s Office said the grenade was found inside a wine box on the corner of South 168th Street and 37th Avenue South by a construction worker at 8 a.m. Monday.

After detonation, it was determined the device did not contain explosives.

Officials say it appeared to be an old cast iron grenade that may have been a training device.

The box was X-rayed by bomb technicians, who said the item appeared to be a real hand grenade. They could not determine if it was live.

Streets in the area were blocked and nearby homes were evacuated, but the grenade was removed from the area and placed into a safe carry container.

Residents were let back into their homes Monday afternoon.

Technicians were digging a hole and planned to detonate the grenade at a field next to McMicken Heights Elementary School, which was not in session. They then decided to move the grenade to a location in Auburn.

A King County Sheriff’s Office bomb technician reminded the public that it is a crime to “place a hoax device.”

Officials will work to determine who placed the device at the scene.

If you have any information, you're asked to call the King County Sheriff’s Office at (206) 296-3311.

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