Unexploded ordnance confirmed to be marine flare
Removed from Saint John beach by military explosives experts
An unexploded ordnance discovered at a Saint John beach Thursday morning has been confirmed to be a marine flare.
Explosive experts from Canadian Forces Base Gagetown arrived at Red Head Cove at about 1 p.m. to deal with the matter.
They quickly examined the estimated foot-long silver tube, put it in a secure container and then loaded it into the back of their military truck.
The flare is expected to be destroyed later at the military base.
Officials believe it must have washed up on shore.
The ordnance was discovered at about 10 a.m. by a couple walking along the beach on the city's east side, just off of Anthony's Cove Road.
Although it was clearly marked as being dangerous with warnings of: "Do not touch," Saint John police say the couple carried it up the beach for about 20 minutes before deciding to call authorities.
Police officers covered the ordnance with sand and marked it with two orange pylons until the explosives experts arrived.
Two police cars also blocked the area off until the ordnance was safely removed.