Residents can expect to hear an explosion or feel the ground shake
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST -- An old military explosive found at a scrap metal business in Newark Thursday has been safely detonated.
The unexploded ordnance was taken to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst after it was discovered around 7 a.m. by workers at Sims Metal Management at Richards Street and Raymond Boulevard.
Newark authorities said it weighed 1,000 pounds.
The base's 87th Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal team safely blew it up around 11 a.m.
Base officials say there was no connection to the weekend bombings in Seaside Park and New York City, but rather such explosives were typically buried for disposal in the mid-20th century or kept as souvenirs by veterans.
Staff Sgt. Caitlin Jones said it's not uncommon in New Jersey to find unexploded ordnance that had been dropped on practice ranges during World War II.
"Typically when we find an (unexploded ordnance) off-base, there's not really an easy way to determine how much explosives are in it and how dangerous it could be," she said. "We don't like to leave them sitting around."
Cristina Rojas may be reached at crojas@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @CristinaRojasTT. Find NJ.com on Facebook.