(UPDATE 2) KPD DISPOSES OF SUSPECTED EXPLOSIVES AT CMC RECYCLING
UPDATE 2:
Residents can now return safely to the evacuation zone. Bomb Squad technicians have completely cleared the contents of the box and the explosives have been rendered safe. Western Avenue will remain closed temporarily between Tennessee and Texas Avenue.
Here are drone photos of the steel box that was found on Mynderse Avenue, which contained a large amount of commercial-grade explosives and blast caps. Also pictured, are Bomb Squad technicians removing the explosives by hand.
UPDATE 1:
Earlier this morning, an explosive ordnance robot was deployed to get a sample of the suspected explosives found inside a box at CMC Recycling on Thursday afternoon.
The sample tested positive for ammonium nitrate, which lab scientists at Quantico confirmed is consistent with dynamite.
Currently, Bomb Squad technicians are actively working to remove the dynamite from the box and safely dispose of it. To dispose of the dynamite, technicians will methodically remove it from the box, douse the dynamite in diesel fuel, and burn it.
Those efforts are being supported by the Knox County Sheriff’s Office and Metro Nashville Police Department Bomb Squads, including advanced MNPD robotic equipment.
It was initially reported that the box contained around 200 sticks of dynamite. Technicians have not yet verified the exact number of pieces of dynamite in the box.
There is no evidence to suggest that the box was left on the site maliciously or with criminal intent. CMC Recycling is a metal recycling facility that purchases materials to be salvaged. The box, which was locked and unmarked, was on the site for at least several days. On Thursday, CMC Recycling was using a torch to salvage the box when they unintentionally set the box on fire and discovered the dynamite.
The box is no longer smoldering or emitting smoke.
The evacuation zone will remain in place until Bomb Squad technicians have completely disposed of the box’s contents and it is deemed safe to return to the area.
That work is expected to continue into tonight and potentially into tomorrow morning.
ORIGINAL STORY:
From the official Facebook page of the Knoxville Police Department:
“Evacuations remain in place within 3,000 feet of the suspected explosives that were discovered yesterday afternoon at CMC Recycling.
We are imploring residents to avoid the area as efforts remain ongoing to evaluate the suspected explosives and the safest course of action.”
