MIRI: A Second World War bomb that was found buried at Kampung Pasir Lutong, about 12km from here, on Sunday was successfully and harmlessly detonated by the Police Bomb Disposal Unit on Monday.

Miri Police Chief ACP Jamaludin Ibrahim told Bernama that the unit detonated the 18inch long bomb at about 9am Monday in a clearance area near the abandoned Lutong airstrip.

Confirming that the bomb was from the war, he said it was found by a 45-year-old welder who was in the midst of clearing the compound of his house at the village at about 6.30pm Sunday.

While trying to dig out the roots of a tree, the welder felt the hoe he was using had struck on rusty metal before realising that it was a bomb.

Police who were immediately informed of the finding cordoned off the area upon their arrival before the Bomb Disposal Unit extracted the explosive for safe detonation.

Meanwhile, Jamaludin advised residents in Lutong to be extra careful when doing their gardening or digging around their compound.

He added that there could be more WWII bombs scattered around the area as Lutong had come under heavy bombing during the war.

Anyone who found such bombs or came across any kind of iron material that raised their suspicion should contact the police immediately for their own safety, he added. -- Bernama

Source taken from http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/9/7/nation/20090907134535&sec=nation