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Canadian Forces, explosives, landmines

Landmines discovered in Ontario creek on long weekend

By Judi McLeod

Sunday, August 5, 2007

The big question about two live landmines found in a countryside culvert running under Inadale Drive between Strathroy and Mt. Brydges, Ontario yesterday is who put them there?

Appearing to be attached to timers, the landmines were likely of the type used to blow up tanks, according to Strathroy-Caradoc police.

Police yesterday swarmed a country creek where children cool off in heat waves like the one this week as Canadian Forces explosives experts detonated the landmines.

The creek would be a huge draw for children in the weatherman's extreme heat alert on Ontario's Simcoe Day long weekend.

Landmine found "One mine was discovered by two teenaged girls Friday. They called police, and a second mine was found yesterday morning, only one metre away from the first." (London Free Press, (London, Ontario) and Sun Media, August 5, 2007).

The Strathroy and Mt. Bridges communities are 20 kilometres west of London, Ont. and 30 kilometres from the former Military Camp Ipperwash (also Camp Ipperwash, a former Canadian Armed Forces training facility, now held by Stoney Point First Nation natives.

The only other military base in the area was CFB Clinton, about 40 kilometres away, shut down some 36 years ago, and CFB London, about 20 kilometres away and downsized some 15 years ago

Worried about the possibility of more mines hidden nearby, Strathroy police asked the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) to conduct a sweep, which was completed by dusk yesterday.

Since the creek is a popular family gathering place, police suspect the mines were put there to deliberately maim and kill.

"The senseless loss of life or grievous bodily harm that could have taken place at this creek--it's reprehensible," Strathroy-Caradoc police Sgt. Mike Overdulve said.

There was no need for speculation on the potential for devastation from the two landmines after a military team detonated both from a safe distance.

The force of the blast ripped bark and limbs from a tree and sprayed water so high it could be seen by observers a kilometer away.

"I could feel the percussive force," Overdulver said. "It was 100 times louder than any fireworks you ever heard."

Seven centimeters thick and 25 centimetres in diameter, the mines appear to be the kind used to disable tanks in countries like Afghanistan and Iraq.

"We can't definitely prove that, but that is the direction we are leaning," Overdulve said.

After the detonation, the explosive experts found debris, "consistent with timers", he said.

The first mine was found Friday by the nearby Denning family who were walking the creek so that their yellow lab, Jesse could cool off in the cold water.

While Inadale is a two-lane country road, many residents cross the culvert to commute to London.

"There's quite a lot of traffic during the week," said Lynn Denning, who commutes to work at London Health Sciences Centre.

"I've seen hand grenades and ammunition, but I never encountered anything like this," Overdulve said.

Anyone who has recently been to the creek beneath Inadale Road between Strathroy and Mt. Brydges, or has seen anyone acting suspiciously near the creek, is asked to call Strathroy-Caradoc police at 519-245-1250.

Canada Free Press founding editor Most recent by Judi McLeod is an award-winning journalist with 30 years experience in the print media. Her work has appeared on Newsmax.com, Drudge Report, Foxnews.com, Glenn Beck. Judi can be reached at: judi@canadafreepress.com


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