Seattle police are currently stationed on N. 34th street at the transfer station. Rumor is that someone has placed a live artillery shell (reportedly 150mm) into the metal recycling collection. The bomb squad has been sent in to recover the shell.

Neighbors are not believed to be in any real danger from this event.

If/when we learn more, we’ll keep you posted.

Update 12:43pm:  According to SeattleCrime.com and the Seattle 911 blog and eyewitness reports, N. 34th street is open to traffic again but the shell is still onsite awaiting removal by a team from Ft. Lewis.  We don’t know if the transfer station is open at this time.

Update 2:05pm:  Wallyhood thanks our eye-witness on the ground who observed the “army guys” removing the shell from the transfer station, sans protective gear.  The transfer station is now open for business.  She also told us her dad has got some old, inactivated shells in his basement.  Grenades, too.   No worries though — he doesn’t live on this continent.