IED Found At Base Of Important Dam In Alabama

Authorities in Mobile safely removed and destroyed a grenade-style improvised explosive device found submerged near a critical Alabama reservoir dam, officials said Wednesday.

The device was discovered by divers conducting a routine inspection of the Converse Reservoir dam ahead of scheduled maintenance and repairs, according to the Mobile Area Water and Sewer System. MAWSS then notified the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, which led a coordinated response involving local, state and federal agencies.

The Gulf Coast Regional Maritime Response and Render-Safe Team handled the retrieval and controlled detonation of the device. The FBI Bomb Squad, Mobile Police Department’s Explosive Ordinance Detail, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Bomb Squad, and Daphne Search and Rescue Team also assisted in the response.

MAWSS Director Bud McCrory said the discovery represented a serious threat to the area’s water infrastructure, while crediting divers, contractors and law enforcement for identifying and neutralizing the device before anyone was harmed.

“Our top priority is keeping your drinking water safe,” McCrory said. “This was an unprecedented threat, and we are fortunate that the device was identified before it could cause any damage to our water supply or endanger the public. We owe a great deal to the skill and professionalism of our law enforcement partners and the alertness of our divers and contractors.”

The Converse Reservoir and dam are federally designated critical infrastructure, and officials said the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has been briefed on the incident as a precaution.

No injuries were reported, and officials said the dam was not damaged. Authorities have not released details about where the device came from, how long it may have been in the water, or whether it posed an active threat when it was found.

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