The twelve-year-old was with his father in a forest in the district of Rottal-Inn when he noticed an object that resembled a toy UFO – it just wasn’t harmless. That was also clear to father and son, they called the police.
The officials compared the original in front of them in the forest floor with photos from the Internet, cordoned off the site where it was found and alerted the State Criminal Police Office: The “UFO” was a Russian plate mine from World War II – built to blow up tanks.
The explosive ordnance clearance service was able to take the mine with it on Saturday without any problems, a police spokesman explained and appealed: Suspicious objects should always be reported and a safe distance from the find kept.