Auckland (The NZ Today)
An improvised explosive device has been safely removed and destroyed after it was discovered in a vehicle near Auckland’s Maungawhau train station.
Police said the item was found while a stolen vehicle was being examined at a towing facility in Mt Eden.
Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Burrow said the vehicle had earlier been located in Ellerslie before being removed and taken to the Mt Eden site.
During the examination, officers discovered a small improvised explosive device.
Police then contacted the New Zealand Defence Force, whose Explosive Ordnance Disposal team attended the scene and assessed the item.
The NZDF confirmed the device was safely removed from the area and destroyed.
Police said there was no wider risk to the public at the time.
An investigation is now underway to establish the circumstances surrounding the explosive and how it came to be inside the stolen vehicle.
The Defence Force also reminded members of the public not to approach suspicious items and to contact police immediately if they believe something may be dangerous.
The incident happened near Maungawhau Station, one of the key stations on Auckland’s City Rail Link network.
Source: New Zealand Police and RNZ.
