Live Bomb Found In Squid At Chinese Fish Market

A live bomb was found inside of a squid at a fish market in China, creating a dangerous situation and a mystery of just how the marine animal digested the explosive.

The more than 3-foot squid was caught off the coast of the Guandong province. It remained on board, explosive and all, during the trip back to a fish market in Jiaoling County where the live bomb was finally found inside the squid.

The bomb was a 3-pound, eggplant-shaped explosive, and authorities say they aren’t exactly sure where it came from. Police think it may have fallen off of a fighter jet, though it could still be much older. The appearance gave few other clues as the water had degraded the outside of the bomb and there were no identifying marks.

“Perhaps (the squid) thought the bomb was his favorite food and gulped it down,” Mr. Huang, the man who found the bomb, told the Guangzhou Daily. “He certainly had a big belly when he was caught.”

The fishmonger added that he was perplexed by the find.

“This sort of squid lives close to the shore and normally makes a meal of small fish and prawns,” Huang said.

When the found the bomb, workers at the fish market called authorities to retrieve the bomb. After it was taken out of the squid, the bomb was detonated in a controlled explosion.

The fisherman who handled the animal are lucky, authorities say. The live bomb in the squid could have gone off at any time as it was being cleaned, remaining active despite some rust and decay from its time in the water.

The bomb found in the squid isn’t the first instance of a marine animal having a dangerous explosive for lunch. In 2007, a 19th century bomb was found inside of a bowhead whale.