Bomb Disposal Squad Discovers Active WWII Mortars and Ammunition in Biak

The Gegana Brimob Papua Regional Police bomb disposal squad has discovered three mortars and 30 rounds of active ammunition from the Second World War near the site of an explosion that killed six residents in the Fisheries Complex, Wolter Monginsidi Street, Biak. Various types of explosives were found by the squad on Tuesday (2/6) during a clearance operation at the crime scene and have since been destroyed, according to Biak Numfor Police Chief AKBP Ari Trestiawan. Previously, on Monday (1/6), the squad also found two grenades of the ‘pineapple’ and ‘mangosteen’ types, which have also been disposed of. The team is currently continuing sterilisation efforts to ensure the area is safe from further explosives. Once the site is declared secure, teams from the Forensic Laboratory and the Papua Regional Police Criminal Investigation Directorate, alongside the Biak Numfor Police Criminal Unit, will conduct a formal investigation. In addition to the bomb disposal efforts, AKBP Ari stated that joint search and rescue (SAR) teams are still searching for three residents reported missing. The search has extended beyond the immediate site to coastal areas; however, since Tuesday (2/6), joint SAR teams have discovered body parts, which are currently held at the Biak Regional Hospital mortuary. The Papua Regional Police DVI team will proceed with the identification of the remains. The initial explosion of WWII-era bombs in Biak occurred on Sunday (31/5), resulting in six deaths, three missing persons, and damage to nine houses.