Explosive found at PNG wharf a 'wine bottle', Chinese embassy suggests
A police report drawing on analysis using an X-ray machine donated by Australia identifies the shell-shaped object as an undetonated artillery projectile.
Papua New Guinea police and military discovered a large, weapon-grade explosive at a Port Moresby wharf, suggesting it was a Chinese military artillery projectile, according to a police report provided to criminal investigators. Despite claims by Chinese government officials that the object was a wine bottle, the Chinese Embassy in Port Moresby posted on social media that a company linked to the incident conducted on-site verification and confirmed the object was a shell-shaped wine bottle.
However, sources close to the case indicate the police report identified the object as a 130mm Chinese Type 59 Artillery Projectile, containing chemical explosives and a fuse. Four Chinese nationals were arrested and taken into custody after the suspected artillery round was found in a commercial shipping container at a major wharf in Port Moresby.
High-level Chinese officials stated they were keeping Papua New Guinea police fully updated on the developments while awaiting official findings of the police investigation.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
