Jibom Gegana Brimob Team Finds WWII Grenade in Biak

Jibom Gegana Brimob Papua Police team discovered an active pineapple grenade while conducting checks at the site of a WWII-era bomb explosion in Biak on Monday.

Biak Numfor Police Chief AKBP Ari Trestiawan, when contacted from Jayapura on Monday evening, said the pineapple grenade was found at the crime scene (TKP) and was destroyed around 6:00 PM WIT.

Explosives checks will resume on Tuesday, June 2, as the Jibom team only arrived in Biak on Monday afternoon, limiting their initial efforts.

Therefore, he urged residents to avoid the crime scene to prevent any untoward incidents until the Jibom team confirms the area is clear of explosives.

“Investigators have not yet processed the crime scene as they are waiting for the Jibom team to sterilise the area and confirm it is free of explosives,” he said.

Previously, the WWII-era bomb explosion in the area killed five people: Deflin Raubaba (41), Moris Raubaba (24), Karmila Ayorbaba (25), Israel Raubaba (7), and Isril Raubaba (5).

In addition to the five fatalities, the incident left three people missing, 19 injured, and nine damaged houses occupied by 10 families totaling 55 people.

The explosion, suspected to originate from a WWII-era bomb, occurred at the Fishery Complex in Biak Kota District, Biak Numfor Regency, Papua, on Sunday, May 31, around 2:45 PM WIT.