Papua New Guinea police arrest 4 Chinese nationals over suspected shell

Papua New Guinea police arrested 4 Chinese nationals in Port Moresby on 30 October after a suspected artillery round was found in a commercial shipping container. The 32-kilogram object was discovered at a construction site, which ABC described as a major wharf.

On 3 November, China’s embassy said a company connected to the incident had checked the object at the site and identified it as a shell-shaped wine bottle. The embassy said it posed no danger.

Competing accounts of the object

ABC cited unnamed high-level sources who said a police report finalized on 3 November identified the object as an undetonated 130mm Chinese Type 59 artillery projectile containing chemical explosives and a fuse. The BBC said it had not independently verified that identification.

ABC reported that an X-ray machine donated by Australia was used to analyse the object.

Police Commissioner David Manning said officers secured the surrounding area to prevent harm. This allowed police and military explosive-disposal experts to examine the object and have it safely moved to a secure facility, he said.

ABC said the arrested nationals remained in custody on 3 November. Its sources said the police report had been given to criminal investigators. Chinese officials said they were keeping Papua New Guinea police fully updated on developments while awaiting the investigation’s official findings.