Tennis ball bomb found in donation bin at Mount Vernon church

News

Photo: Saga Communications/Dave Walker

MOUNT VERNON, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Mount Vernon Police are investigating after an dangerous donation turned up at a local church.

Police Lt. Dave Shackleton says officers were called to a report of a possible explosive found at the church on E. Evergreen Street around 5:15 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 29.

An employee had discovered what they believed to be a tennis ball bomb in the church’s donation bin.

The Bellingham Police Department’s (BPD) Hazardous Device Unit (HDU) arrived around 6:00 p.m. to help collect the object.

BPD Lt. Claudia Murphy says the HDU confirmed it to be an improvised explosive device and safely disposed of it.

Shackleton says officers are continuing to investigate who may have made the donation.

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