Rhode Island Man Discovers Mortar Shell While Magnet Fishing, Prompting Evacuations
A Rhode Island man, Gerard Perreault, made an unexpected and dangerous discovery while magnet fishing under a bridge in West Warwick. Perreault hooked an object approximately one foot long, covered in muck and seaweed, which he initially found unsettling. After lowering it back into the water and contacting authorities, the fire department identified the object as a mortar shell, an explosive projectile. This discovery led to immediate action from local police, who shut down the Main Street bridge and surrounding areas, causing significant traffic disruptions around West Warwick Avenue. As bomb technicians assessed the device, the safety perimeter was expanded, resulting in the evacuation of two nearby apartment buildings. Perreault, who previously found hand grenades near Rocky Point in July, expressed shock at his repeated encounters with explosives. 
