Swedish police launched a major operation in Eslöv after discovering a suspected live hand grenade outside an apartment building. Officers evacuated parts of the property and told residents in nearby buildings to stay indoors.
Police received reports about a potentially dangerous object outside a residential property early Tuesday. When officers arrived, they confirmed the item appeared dangerous.
"We received observations that something dangerous might be located outside a property," said Ola Sunesson Almström, the police duty officer. "When we arrived, we also assessed that the object could be dangerous."
Shortly after 5:00 AM, police confirmed the object was a live hand grenate. The national bomb squad was called to the scene in this southern Swedish town of 20,000 people.
Police have classified the incident as attempted public destruction and serious crime against flammable and explosive goods. They blocked off the area while bomb experts examined the device.
Eslöv residents expressed shock at finding such a weapon in their quiet community. Hand grenades have become more common in Swedish criminal activity in recent years, though they rarely appear in residential areas.
Police continue to investigate how the grenade ended up outside the apartment building. No arrests have been made yet in connection with the incident.
The discovery highlights ongoing challenges with weapon trafficking in Sweden, where explosive devices sometimes appear in criminal conflicts. Authorities work to keep such dangerous items off the streets.