An assembly at Osmaston CofE Primary School in Derbyshire turned tense when a pupil presented a World War II-era hand grenade, leading to a swift evacuation and intervention from bomb disposal experts. The incident highlights ongoing challenges schools face with historical weapons brought in as memorabilia.
Drama unfolded at Osmaston CofE Primary School in Ashbourne, Derbyshire, as students and staff were abruptly evacuated following a startling revelation during a show-and-tell assembly. A child brought in a World War II-grade explosive device, triggering a swift response from emergency services, including police and military bomb disposal experts.
The incident, which occurred on May 16, saw head teacher Jeanette Hart taking immediate precautions when the child’s contribution—a hand grenade—was presented. Unsure of its status, she temporarily secured the potentially dangerous item behind a sturdy tree in the school car park. Authorities praised the “quick-thinking” actions of the staff, who promptly moved students to safety.
In similar cases reported across the UK and the United States, parents and schools have had to navigate the complexities of children bringing antique or decommissioned weaponry to school. Just recently, an 8-year-old boy in Cape Cod brought an inert World War II grenade to his elementary school, leading to a brief evacuation. Fortunately, like the situation at Osmaston, police deemed it an innocent mistake after confirming the grenade was safe.
Mrs Hart shared her initial disbelief during the assembly, noting, “It was quite an eventful assembly. It was going fine and there was a boy who brought an old bullet case in, which I knew about, but then his friend produced a hand grenade from his pocket. That, I was not expecting.” This sentiment of surprise is echoed in other incidents. At a Chesterfield school in Derbyshire, a similar object brought by a student led to an evacuation when police and bomb disposal teams were called in, only to find it posed no real threat.
These alarming episodes serve as vital reminders of the risks associated with historical artefacts, as parents often remain unaware of what items can be considered dangerous. The military’s involvement is indicative of how authorities handle such situations with utmost seriousness, notwithstanding the devices’ actual statuses as mere memorabilia.
In one notable instance in Powys, Wales, students evacuated after a peer brought a suspected hand grenade to Newtown High School. The swift action of authorities led to the identification of the device as harmless war memorabilia, a frequent outcome in these cases.
Furthermore, similar incidents have occurred in the United States, where an elementary school in Utah experienced a short evacuation after a student presented what turned out to be a harmless training grenade. In another case, a child brought a grenade to school for a World War II-themed show-and-tell in Stratford, Connecticut, resulting in a lockdown. Even in these circumstances, officials often find that such items, though alarming, are typically decommissioned or replicas.
These occurrences raise critical questions about safety protocols in schools and the responsibilities of parents when it comes to items their children might bring to class. According to police, preventing similar emergencies involves both educating parents and enhancing awareness regarding the potential dangers of seemingly innocuous historical items.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/2056431/primary-school-evacuated-boy-brings-hand-grenade-show-tell – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.foxnews.com/story/massachusetts-school-evacuated-after-boy-brings-grenade-for-show-and-tell – An 8-year-old boy brought an inert World War II-era grenade to his Cape Cod elementary school for show-and-tell, leading to a brief evacuation. The device, from which the explosive charge and detonator had been removed, was turned over to the state police bomb squad for disposal. Police treated the incident as an innocent mistake by the child. ([foxnews.com](https://www.foxnews.com/story/massachusetts-school-evacuated-after-boy-brings-grenade-for-show-and-tell?utm_source=openai))
- https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-derbyshire-58909456 – A student brought an old hand grenade into a history lesson at Parkside Community School in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, causing part of the school to be evacuated. Police and a military bomb disposal team were called, and the grenade was confirmed to have been decommissioned, posing no threat. ([bbc.com](https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-derbyshire-58909456?utm_source=openai))
- https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-mid-wales-19841016 – A pupil took a suspected World War II hand grenade to Newtown High School in Powys, Wales, to show friends. Army experts retrieved the device from the school grounds, and police confirmed it was a decommissioned piece of war memorabilia, posing no danger. ([bbc.com](https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-mid-wales-19841016?utm_source=openai))
- https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-29571875 – Croesyceiliog School in Cwmbran, Wales, was evacuated after a pupil brought a suspected World War II hand grenade to class. Bomb disposal experts confirmed the device was a hollow replica and posed no threat. Approximately 400 pupils were taken out of lessons for about three hours. ([bbc.com](https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-29571875?utm_source=openai))
- https://www.deseret.com/2019/2/19/20666207/fake-grenade-prompts-real-evacuation-of-utah-elementary-school – Taylorsville Elementary School in Utah was briefly evacuated after a first-grade student brought a suspicious device to school. The device, a ‘training/facsimile grenade,’ was determined to be harmless after a 20-minute evacuation. The student had shown it to friends before the teacher was alerted. ([deseret.com](https://www.deseret.com/2019/2/19/20666207/fake-grenade-prompts-real-evacuation-of-utah-elementary-school/?utm_source=openai))
- https://www.nhregister.com/connecticut/article/11-year-old-takes-grenade-to-school-for-11382693.php – An 11-year-old boy in Stratford, Connecticut, brought a grenade to school for a World War II-themed show-and-tell. The school was placed on lockdown, and a bomb squad determined the grenade was a simulator used for training. The boy’s mother was arrested on charges related to the incident. ([nhregister.com](https://www.nhregister.com/connecticut/article/11-year-old-takes-grenade-to-school-for-11382693.php?utm_source=openai))
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:
9
Notes:
The incident occurred on May 16, 2025, indicating very recent news. There is no evidence that this is recycled from older articles or press releases.
Quotes check
Score:
8
Notes:
The quote from Mrs. Hart could not be found in earlier online sources, suggesting it might be original. However, without direct confirmation, it remains uncertain.
Source reliability
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative originates from the Express, a well-known UK publication, but its reliability can vary depending on the specific content and context.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims are plausible given similar incidents reported in the UK and US. The involvement of police and military experts aligns with typical protocols for handling suspicious items.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative appears to be recent, with the incident occurring on May 16. The origin from the Express, which is a well-known publication, supports its reliability. The plausibility is high due to similar incidents worldwide.
