Why is Switzerland offering cash prizes to retrieve munitions from lakes?

The Swiss Federal Department of Defence Procurement (Armasuisse) is offering 50,000 Swiss francs ($57,800) for the three best ideas on how to retrieve some 12,000 tonnes of old munitions from the country’s lakes, including Lake Thun, Lake Brienz and Lake Read More …

Switzerland offers cash prize to get munitions out of lakes

Tourists enjoying the picture postcard views of lakes Lucerne, Thun or Neuchatel might be surprised to learn what lies beneath those pristine alpine waters. For years the Swiss military used the lakes as dumping grounds for old munitions, believing it Read More …

Northern Ireland: More than 400 homes evacuated after suspected WW2 bomb found

Police say more than 400 homes have been evacuated in Newtownards, County Down, following the discovery of a suspected World War Two bomb. It was found at a building site at the Rivenwood housing development in Movilla Road on Friday. Read More …

EOD teams upend training for threats from IEDs on the ground to drones in the air

The job of ordnance disposal technicians is rapidly changing. After decades of handling prevasive ground-level threats of improvised explosive devices in Afghanistan and Iraq, disposal techs are reinventing their jobs for a new threat: drones with explosives. As they adjust, Read More …

UK: Two men arrested over ‘explosive substances’ in Lincoln

Two men have been arrested on suspicion of making explosive substances for unlawful purpose. Officers received reports of “suspicious activity” at a property in Breedon Drive, Lincoln, on Friday evening. Military personnel and police remain were expected to remain at Read More …

Japan to purchase equipment for humanitarian demining in Ukraine and hand it over to the SES

Japan has ordered 12 minibuses and 8 trailers from Ukrainian manufacturers for the SES. The equipment is part of JICA’s support package for demining in Ukraine, with a total funding of more than $70 million. Japan will buy equipment for Read More …

Estonia concludes framework contracts to buy equipment designed for special forces

The Estonian Center for Defense Investment (RKIK) has entered into framework contracts on behalf of the defense forces and the Rescue Board for the acquisition of clothing and special equipment designed for special units, on the basis of which it Read More …

UK: Unexploded Second World War bomb found in Worcester

Gardeners discovered an unexploded Second World War bomb while they were digging in the garden of a home in Barbourne. Police officers were manning the cordon as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team made up of two army personnel arrived at Read More …

Nebraska National Guard called to rural home after suspected artillery shell found

The Nebraska Air National Guard was deployed Monday to a rural home in Adams, Neb. after a suspected artillery shell was discovered, according to the Gage County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies were dispatched around 5 p.m. after a man reported striking Read More …

Cambodia: CMAC unearth another US aerial bomb in Kandal province

CMAC has unearthed and safely removed another US made M117 aerial bomb in southern Kandal province, a mine clearance chief said on Tuesday. Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC)’s Director-General Heng Ratana said the massive bomb was spotted buried in a Read More …

EU allocating EUR 2M for new humanitarian mine action initiative in Ukraine

The European Union is allocating EUR 2 million to finance a new humanitarian mine action initiative in Ukraine, which will be carried out by Ukrainian handlers with their highly trained dogs. The relevant statement was made by the Delegation of Read More …

UNDP and Netherlands launch mine action training for persons with disabilities in Ukraine

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine, with support from the Government of the Netherlands, has launched a pioneering project to train a group of 12 persons with disabilities, who have impairments due to Explosive Ordnance, in the use Read More …

UNIFIL Chief of Operations inspects Chinese Peacekeeping Troops to Lebanon

Recently, French Colonel Peyrecave, J3 Chief of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), inspected the 22nd Chinese Peacekeeping Troops to UNIFIL and expressed his appreciation for China’s outstanding contribution to UNIFIL. Upon arriving at the camp, Peyrecave and Read More …

Cambodia: Training starts for Ukrainian demining specialists

The Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) began a two-week training course on Wednesday, August 7 for Ukrainian explosives experts, focusing on the use of demining equipment in humanitarian operations. The opening ceremony was presided over by Heng Ratana, the government Read More …

Koa Moana 24: EOD Sweeps for WWII Unexploded Ordnance

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Gage Gardner, an explosive ordnance technician with Combat Logistics Battalion 13, Combat Logistics Regiment 17, 1st Marine Logistics Group, and a native of Jay, Oklahoma, measures unexploded ordnance after executing operational area clearance for UXO from Read More …

Philippines: Explosives used in blast fishing seized in Zamboanga City

Authorities confiscated up to 46 bottles of homemade explosives allegedly used in blast fishing in Zamboanga City. Members of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NFWM), police, and personnel of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) conducted a maritime Read More …

Colombia: Army neutralizes explosive devices with which the residual GAO planned to attack soldiers and the inhabitants of Tame, Arauca

These devices represented an imminent risk and threat to the inhabitants who live in Tame, Arauca, as well as to the soldiers who carry out their mission. With the objective of working to raise the protection of the inhabitants and Read More …

Arkansas: Area firefighters learn about improvised explosives in one-day training course

More than 20 emergency service personnel were at the Garland County Landfill on Friday afternoon to conclude a day of training on improvised explosives led by the Arkansas Render Safe Task Force. The main portion of the course was at Read More …

Nigeria: Police in Maiduguri recover more explosive devices

The Borno Police Command says it has discovered six projectile grenades allegedly abandoned by terrorists at Ajilari Cross Area in Maiduguri, the state capital. Police Explosive Ordnance Department (EOD), Base 13, deployed to the scene to assess the grenades, discovered Read More …

Jammu and Kashmir: Police To Strengthen Law Enforcement With 64,000 Investigation Kits and Bomb Disposal Vehicles

The Jammu and Kashmir Police are set to acquire more than 64,000 advanced investigation kits for police stations across the Union Territory, along with two specialised vehicles for the Bomb Disposal Squad, according to officials. The initiative aims to boost Read More …