Boys’ magnet fishing trip in Joensuu turns up wartime grenade

Two boys magnet fishing at the passenger harbour in Joensuu pulled a wartime munition from the Pielisjoki River, Yle reports. The discovery led to the partial closure of the harbour for several hours.

The object was identified by the Finnish Defence Forces as a fragmentation grenade from either an anti-aircraft gun or a tank gun.

“It was about as thick as a wrist and heavy. We wondered about it for quite a long time,” said Valto Pirhonen and Luukas Vatanen.

The boys did not initially realise how serious the find was. They first asked Vatanen’s mother for advice on a video call and then spoke to passers-by. They were preparing to cycle home with the object in their bag when Vatanen arrived.

“I came over and said that we should leave the catch on the ground. We called the police together,” Sari Vatanen said.

The discovery resulted in part of the Joensuu passenger harbour being cordoned off. Defence Forces disposal personnel eventually collected the munition for destruction.

Vatanen said it was important that the boys had immediately contacted an adult. Police advised that if they found a similar object again, they could drop it back into the water, but should not leave it lying in a public place and should report it.

Pirhonen, 13, was magnet fishing for the first time. Vatanen had tried the hobby before. Their usual catches are pipes, coins and small rusty objects.

Magnet fishing involves searching for and lifting metal objects from bodies of water. Finding weapons and explosives while pursuing the hobby is rare but not unheard of.