PORT TOWNSEND — Washington State Patrol confirmed today that a brick of U.S. military grade C-4 plastic explosive was recovered from the shoreline off North Beach on Monday morning.
Trooper Krista Hedstrom said information was still limited as the State Patrol Bomb Squad continued to look into the origin of the explosive. However, she did confirm that the markings on the brick of C-4 indicated that it belonged to the military.
“We got the call at 7:09 a.m.,” Hedstrom said.
“Someone spotted it on the shore during low tide and called the Port Townsend police, who evacuated the beach.
“From there, our bomb squad came in and took it away.”
It is currently unknown which branch of the military the C-4 might have belonged to. Hedstrom said the State Patrol would contact the Navy and see if the ordnance belonged to it.
If troopers can’t determine where the C-4 came from, they will likely destroy it, Hedstrom said.
Port Townsend Police Sgt. Ed Green said the brick of C-4 had a serial code on it and authorities will likely be able to track the explosives.
As for any danger presented to beachcombers, Green said it was minimal.
“At this point I wouldn’t say there isn’t any danger in taking a walk along the beach,” he said.
“Even the C-4 found was fairly safe as it didn’t have an ignition source attached.”
Still, Green said, anyone who finds anything suspicious on the beach should call 9-1-1.
“The reporting party did the right thing,” he said.
“They didn’t touch it and made the call to get us involved.”
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Reporter Erik Hidle can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at erik.hidle@peninsuladailynews.com
