Police Investigating Military Training Bomb Explosion in Orange Walk

At a police press briefing this morning, ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer, confirmed that police have launched a full investigation into Saturday’s deadly explosion in San Jose Nuevo Palmar Village, which claimed the life of 25-year-old welder Jose Valencia.

“Upon police’s arrival, they were able to confirm that an explosion did in fact occur, and this explosion led to the death of Jose Valencia,” Smith told reporters. She added that police are working closely with the Belize Defence Force (BDF) to determine if any charges could follow. “The police department, in connection with the Belize Defence Force, who is the primary experts as it relates to identifying and categorizing what exactly the device is, are in dialogue and we are reviewing the danger of scope up to determine what, if any, charges can be brought.”

Smith also urged residents to exercise extreme caution if they come across suspicious devices. “If they ever discovered, the first thing to do is not to interfere with it, trying to ascertain anything, but instead to call the police department, or if you’re able to call the BDF. … Incidents such as this do not repeat themselves.”

She stressed that such finds are not uncommon in the area: “It is not something novel in that area for devices of such to be found. And hopefully this serves as a learning lesson to those persons who may be in the habit or in the hobby of retaining those items.”

The Ministry of National Defence and Border Security confirmed that the explosion was caused by an MK1 General Purpose Medium Capacity Aircraft Bomb, a military training device designed to carry only a “spotting charge” rather than TNT. Despite being a training bomb, the device was still capable of producing a powerful blast that killed Valencia and damaged nearby property.

The explosion left a crater three feet wide and two inches deep. The BDF’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Team subsequently found two more bombs of the same type in the area, which were safely stabilised and removed.

Officials say San Jose Palmar was once used as a military training ground, which explains the presence of unexploded ordnance. Homeowner Dave Burgos, a former P.U.P. area representative, told investigators that he had hired Valencia to weld hooks onto what he thought was a harmless training bomb intended as a decorative piece.