An explosive device was found and defused at the Out of Use recycling centre in Beringen, Limburg on 12 April, according to the Flemish publication VRT.
Out of Use is a recycling company specialising in electrical and electronic equipment. Employees of the recycling plant found the explosive in a recycling container and phoned the police, who created a perimeter around the site.
The explosive device was found amongst a shipment of used airbags. In a comment to VRT, Chief Operating Officer Yannick Adrainssens said that the whole incident was “outside our comfort zone.”
The police later notified the Belgian Explosive Device Disposal and Destruction Service (DOVO), who were able to neutralise the explosive. The police are now investigating just how the explosive device ended up in the shipment of airbags.
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DOVO is often called on to deal with unexploded bombs in Belgium, especially old World War II munitions.
Back in 2020, 150 Flanders residents were evacuated after construction workers in Maasmechelen dug up a large unexploded World War II bomb.
