Charles River Bomb Squad Search Comes Up Empty Near Newton Line

NEWTON, MA — A State Police bomb squad and marine dive team search of the Charles River near the Kendrick Street bridge did not uncover any more explosive devices after multiple unexploded devices were fished from the river in that area in the past week.

State police said the two "deteriorated projectiles" were recovered last week but that "no other ordinance was found today."

Residents and onlookers were asked to avoid the area of the Kendrick Street bridge near the Newton/Needham line on Monday morning as crews from the State Police bomb squad, State Police marine unit and the Needham Police Department swept the Charles River.

Needham police asked residents not to congregate to watch the activity to help facilitate traffic flow in the busy area of the town.

"Detail officers will be in place," Needham police said early in the day. "There is otherwise no risk to the public at this time.

"If an ordnance is located, we will work in conjunction with the Massachusetts State Police Bomb Squad to determine appropriate disposal of the item in the safest manner possible."

Magnet fishers had found the unexploded devices in the past week along and near the bridge.

Magnet fishers use the magnets to fish the waterways for metal objects that may be of value in rivers and streams.