LATEST @ 1.00PM | A Gold Coast beach has been given the all clear after a torpedo washed up on the shoreline this morning.
The device was discovered on Main Beach around 5.45am on Thursday, forcing police to impose an exclusion zone.
Army bomb experts were called in to inspect the device, which authorities later deemed to be a training torpedo that posed no danger.
“We’ve contacted members of the ADF who have this morning attended and confirmed that the device is inert and in fact a practice torpedo,” Acting Police Inspector Leon Wort said.
“We’ve got no further concerns for public safety”.
The device has since been boxed up and taken to the Australia Defence Force base in Enoggera where it will undergo further examination.
UPDATE @ 9.20AM | A large area of The Spit at Main Beach has been cordoned off as specialist police investigate a suspicious military device that’s washed up on shore.
The object, suspected to be a MK54 torpedo, was discovered around 5.45am Thursday morning.
The bomb squad has been called in to inspect the item and try and determine whether it’s live.
It remains unclear exactly where the device came from, however there are markings on it suggesting it has US origins.
An emergency declaration under the Public Safety Preservation Act (PSPA) remains in place, with an exclusion zone of around 500 metres.
Members of the public are being told to avoid the area.
More to come.
EARLIER @ 6.50AM | An emergency situation is unfolding at The Spit in Main Beach following the discovery of a suspicious device.
Queensland Police have made an emergency declaration under the Public Safety Preservation Act (PSPA), with an exclusion zone of 100 metres in place.
The device washed up on shore at around 5.45am Thursday morning.
IMAGE: myGC
Specialist police are examining the object, with members of the community asked to avoid the area.
Witnesses claim it looks like a missile, however, these reports are unconfirmed.
UPDATE: Matt McDonald is live on the beach and reported in to Galey and Emily Jade
More to come.
