A town centre shopping street was sealed off by police this morning after a suspected grenade was donated to a charity shop.
Police were called to the British Heart Foundation store in Mesnes Street, Wigan, at 10.40am, after the ‘grenade’ was discovered in a piece of furniture donated. Police set up a 100m cordon while they investigated.
Access to Northway and New Market Street was blocked from the road until 12:30pm, when police left. Cops sealed Mesnes Street as far back as Marsden Street.
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It was then established that the ‘grenade’ was not given to the store with ‘any malicious intentions’, GMP’s Wigan West division said. The force said in a statement: “At around 10.40am today (Sunday 1 May 2022), we received a report of a suspected grenade contained within furniture donated to a charity shop on Mesnes Street, Wigan.
“Specialist officers are in attendance. “A cordon has been put in place as a precaution.
“Enquiries are ongoing but, at this stage, there are not believed to be any malicious intentions.” A later statement from GMP 'confirmed that the grenade is not a viable explosive device' and officers will 'safely remove it.'
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Fire chiefs also attended the scene. A spokesperson said: "At approximately 11.30am on Sunday, 1st May, firefighters were called to assist Greater Manchester Police at an incident on Mesnes Street, in Wigan. One fire engine from Wigan fire station quickly attended the scene. Firefighters remain in attendance at this time."
The incident occurred on the same day Wigan Athletic hosted its ‘party in the park’ in nearby Mesnes Park, with fans spotted around the area celebrating the club’s promotion to the EFL Championship.
It is also occurred just two days after a similar incident in Middleton, where council staff clearing a house found a grenade in an ice cream tub. Police, fire, and the Army all attended the incident which saw residents evacuated.
British Heart Foundation has been contacted for comment.
