The search for a stolen blue plaque dedicated to David Oluwale led to a grenade being pulled out of the River Aire in Leeds.
West Yorkshire Police were called to Great Wilson Street at 12.19pm today after reports a grenade had been found in the river.
The discovery was made after a “powerful” magnet owned by a magnet fishing group was being used to assist West Yorkshire Police following the theft of the tribute which was unveiled at around 6pm on Monday, April 25.
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Police are treating the theft as a hate crime and in a statement by the force, they state that the plaque honouring David, who died in 1969 after being racially harassed by two officers, had been deliberately targeted.
Jason Midgley, a member of the group, said they offered to help look for the plaque as they had more powerful magnets but ended up finding the grenade instead.
Jason, who was standing on the bridge when the magnet latched onto the grenade, said due to the explosives the group has found before in the river, he recognised what it was straight away even from a distance.
He said: “To be honest we’re used to it, I think this is the fifth one we’ve had as a group.
“Canal Connections were trying to retrieve the plaque but we have a powerful magnet so we offered to come down and help.
“The magnet pulled up the grenade but then the magnet was stuck between the grenade and the side of the boat.”
“As soon as it was pulled out, I recognised what it was," he continued. “It was about trying to retrieve the plaque but one thing led to another.
“I’ve been doing it for a while now but the lad that pulled it up, it was his first time using the magnet.
“I was shouting ‘don’t reach down to it, it doesn’t look good from here’ I walked around from the bridge to the boat.”
Jason believes that the grenade was live and said he saw a pin in the explosive. It was removed by the bomb disposal unit. The group has said they will return tomorrow (Wednesday) to try and retrieve the plaque.
Asda House, in Great Wilson Street, was evacuated when the force was called to the scene at 12.19pm but people were allowed back into the building shortly after.
A previous statement from Leeds District Commander, Chief Superintendent Damien Miller said: “It is truly appalling that someone would remove the plaque commemorating the life of David Oluwale, and we recognise the significant impact that this act will have had on all those involved in keeping David’s memory alive and on the wider community.
“The timing clearly suggests that this has been a deliberately targeted act and we are classing this as a hate crime.
“We are treating this incident very seriously and have detectives from Leeds District CID carrying out extensive enquiries to identify who is responsible and to locate and recover the plaque.
“Leeds Bridge is in a busy area in the heart of the city centre and we would urge anyone who witnessed any suspicious activity or who has any information that could assist the investigation to contact us immediately.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact Leeds District CID via 101 quoting crime reference 13220222118 or online via www.westyorkshire.police.uk/101livechat
Information can also be given anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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