Police respond to reports of suspected 'grenade' found in car boot

A suspected grenade was found in the trunk of a car in Merseyside, according to Merseyside Police.

Officers responded to Strand Road in Bootle around 1:10 p.m. GMT after receiving a report of a possible explosive device.

To ensure safety, police set up a cordon and evacuated several nearby homes and businesses, a police spokesperson confirmed.

“Road closures are also in effect, so please avoid the area while emergency services address the situation,” the spokesperson added.

This incident follows the recent discovery of two unexploded bombs in Bootle. The first World War II device was found on North Atlantic Avenue on October 22, and another was uncovered just two days later on October 24.

The Army’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team safely transported the first device to Ainsdale Beach in Southport, where it was destroyed in a controlled explosion. Video of the detonation, captured by the news site Eye On Southport, shows the EOD team carrying out the procedure on the beach.