Knox County, Ohio Knox County residents were alarmed by midnight explosions resulting from an emergency disposal operation carried out by the Columbus Division of Fire, Bomb Squad and military specialists from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The teams collaborated on a disposal operation of "outdated military-grade ammunition," at a facility in Knox County.

According to a statement released by the Columbus Division of Fire, "The ammunition was discovered by a new property owner, who requested assistance to ensure it was handled safely."

"Due to the urgent nature of the situation and the need to maintain public safety, advance public notification was not possible. Out of an abundance of caution and to prioritize public safety, trained bomb squad technicians conducted a controlled disposal of the ammunition."

The department assured nearby residents that the risk was fully mitigated stating, "There was no ongoing threat to the community, and at no time was the public in danger. The operation was completed successfully and without incident."

Apple Valley, California The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department was forced to close its Apple Valley Police Station after a resident brought in what was likely Civil War-era cannonballs.

According to deputies, the cannonballs appeared to have fuses attached, prompting the closure out of an abundance of caution. The department's bomb squad responded to examine the ordnance which was then removed for safe disposal.

The department thanked the resident for handing over the cannonballs but reminded anyone who may discover potential military ordnance or explosives to leave them in place and call law enforcement immediately.

Wimborne, England Dorset Police responded to Wimborne after a father-son magnet fishing team pulled a mortar from a river near Canford Magna.

In a statement a spokesperson for Dorset Police said, "At 10.57am on Thursday 19 February 2026, we received a report that a suspected ordnance had been found in the River Stour near Canford Magna. Officers attended and the EOD was made aware of the report and attended."

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence (MOD) said, "We can confirm an Army EOD team was tasked to River Stour near Canford magna at the request of Dorset Police following a suspect item of UXO being found."

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Hesperia, California A woman videoing debris exposed by low water levels inside the California Aqueduct in Hesperia discovered more than trash. According to a spokesperson for the Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, she reported a potential military ordnance inside the water channel.

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St. Dorset, England St. Albans Coastguard responded to reports of a suspicious object was found on the beach at Chapman's Pool near Worth Matravers in Dorset. The Coastguard sent pictures of the item to Army EOD who confirmed the ID as a WWII hand grenade made of Bakelite.

This grenade is the seventh similar one found in the area in the last two years. Officials believe they could have been all buried together at the end of the war but are now being exposed following a 2024 cliff landslide.

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Portreath, Cornwall  United Kingdom residents were forced to evacuate their homes after WWII era UXO was discovered during environmental work in a local stream. Police were called to Penberthy Road in Portreath, following reports of a suspicious item. Officers immediately established a 100-meter cordon, closing the road in both directions and evacuating nearby properties as a safety precaution.

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Kariki Village, Solomon Islands Residents of a Solomon Island village are asking for assistance from the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) after the discovery of UXO along a road in Kariki Village.

The ordnance is reportedly located in an area commonly used for gardening and day-to-day activities, presenting an potentially dangerous risk to the local community, especially women and children.

One resident said, "This bomb has been here for some time, and people pass through the area every day to go to their gardens. We are very worried that an accident could happen at any time, especially involving children."

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Toulouse, France Bomb disposal units responded to a French hospital to defuse a WWI-era munition stuck in a man's rectum. Medics discovered the eight-inch shell dating back to 1918 during surgery, prompting a mass evacuation of Rangueil Hospital.

Police and firefighters were also called in while bomb technicians successfully rendered the munition safe. The unidentified man is still recovering from surgery and could possibly be charged for violating France's weapons legislation.

A police spokesperson said, "He was in a state of extreme discomfort, having inserted a large object up his rectum. Emergency surgery was carried out, and the object was found to be an artillery shell dating back to the First World War."

"Worse still, it had not exploded and so bomb disposal experts had to be called to defuse the shell, with the fire brigade standing by."

The 37mm brass-and-copper shell was used by the Imperial German Army near the end of WWI. The man is scheduled to be interviewed by police pending a potential charge for handling "category A munitions", according to police.

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