A man in Oxford was briefly detained by armed police after his collection of ornamental German and Soviet grenades was mistaken for live munitions. He was released without charge, but most of his collection remains in police custody causing distress.
A householder in Oxford was briefly detained by armed police on Monday, 7 April, after officers raided a neighbouring property in Marlborough Road and noticed his collection of ornamental German and Soviet grenades. The man was arrested in front of his neighbours but was released without charge shortly afterwards when Thames Valley Police confirmed the grenades were decorative and not live.
A police spokesperson explained, “The munitions on further investigation were found to be ornamental hand grenades which were not live and were not illegal.” Following this, an officer returned the man’s house keys later in the week, including a decorative Uzi bullet, but the rest of his valued collection remains in police custody.
The man, who has chosen to remain anonymous, expressed frustration over the delay in the return of his items. He told The Oxford Times he felt upset by the experience and concerned that his items might have been destroyed. “I’ve given up hope,” he said. “I feel that it is an injustice. They could have destroyed them by now and it is getting to the point that I am not bothered. I’ve accepted that I am not going to get them back.” The collection, which amounts to several hundred pounds in value, was acquired over a number of years, primarily from London antique shops.
While police have declined to comment further on the case, local city councillor Naomi Waite, representative for Hinksey Park in Oxford City Council, has voiced her support for the householder. Waite told The Oxford Times, “I hope it’s not the case that a lengthy process is required and if it is I would certainly encourage the Thames Valley Crime Commissioner to review this so it’s as easy as possible. I know our local officers work very hard, and I’d always much rather see them out in neighbourhoods combatting crime.”
The man’s prized collection includes a German Stielhandgranate stick grenade and a Soviet Union F1 fragmentation grenade, both historically significant items from the Second World War. Despite his desire to see his collection returned, he acknowledges that pursuing the matter further could be a distraction amid other personal challenges. “If I complained I could get them back, but I have too much going on in my life at the moment. I have been unwell,” he disclosed. “It’s not been a great few years for me and this is just a small part of that.”
The police confirmed the importance of ensuring that all items were legal and safe, reiterating that the grenades, while originally real, were now ornamental and not a threat. The situation remains unresolved as the man waits for the full return of his collection, which has caused a degree of distress in the local community.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-68743999 – This article reports on an incident in Oxford where armed police detained a man after reports of him being seen with a gun, leading to his arrest on suspicion of possession of an imitation firearm.
- https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-surrey-19645525 – This article discusses a case in Surrey where two unexploded hand grenades were found in a property, leading to evacuations and police investigations, with the grenades later confirmed to be old and not live.
- https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-essex-21558336 – This article covers an incident in Chelmsford, Essex, where a live hand grenade was found in a park, prompting a police response and a controlled explosion to safely dispose of the device.
- https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-devon-66102804 – This article reports on an incident in Dartmoor where homes were evacuated after a gardener found a metal object, initially thought to be a grenade, which was later confirmed to be non-ordnance.
- https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/us/man-uses-live-grenades-to-decorate-home-in-uk-this-is-what-happened/articleshow/97587875.cms – This article describes an incident in Cornwall, UK, where a man used live grenades as home decorations, unaware they were live, leading to police intervention and the grenades being safely removed.
- https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1754156/oxford-broad-street-police-evacuation-shops-bus – This article reports on a bomb threat in Oxford’s Broad Street area, leading to evacuations and a police cordon being put in place near Oxford University.
- https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/25125758.oxford-man-lost-hope-world-war-two-grenades-return/?ref=rss – Please view link – unable to able to access data
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative includes specific dates and recent events, indicating that the information is up-to-date and not recycled from older reports.
Quotes check
Score:
9
Notes:
While specific quotes from individuals involved are included, these were not found in earlier publications online. However, without further historical context, the first use of these quotes cannot be confirmed as original or not.
Source reliability
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative originates from a local news outlet, which generally lacks the broader recognition of major international publications but still maintains a level of local credibility and reliability.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The scenario described is plausible, involving a police response to a potentially hazardous situation, subsequent investigation, and the involvement of local authorities in resolving the matter.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative appears to be based on recent events, includes quotes that are likely original to this context, and stems from a locally reputable source. The described scenario is generally plausible, leading to a positive assessment overall.
