Exploding Grenade Injures Woman At NJ Apartment Complex: Police

HIGHTSTOWN, NJ — A woman was injured Monday when a grenade detonated inside a Hightstown apartment, borough police said.

Officers went to the Deerfield/Westerlea Arms apartments around 11:40 a.m. after receiving a call about a 39-year-old woman experiencing severe stomach pain, Hightstown police said in a news release.

When police arrived, they determined the woman was injured by a grenade that had detonated. Robbinsville EMS took the woman to the hospital where she was treated for non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

Authorities then shut down the area and evacuated some residents as a precaution. The Hightstown Fire Department and New Jersey State Police bomb squad were also called to the scene.

Authorities determined the grenade was an inert device that still had a fuse. It detonated when someone tampered with or removed the pin, police said.

No other injuries were reported.

"This is a reminder for all that devices that seem inert or safe, may not be, and have the potential for serious injuries," Hightstown police said in a statement. "Anyone that comes in possession of such devices should contact their local police department or NJSP Bomb Squad to (ensure) the devices are safe."