Bomb Squad Disables Live Bazooka Rocket in Hartsdale

It turns out that a Hartsdale neighbor has been housing a live bazooka rocket in her attic. Joseph Barden was assisting his elderly neighbor, Kathryn Sloate of Joyce Road in Hartsdale to clean out her attic on Friday 5-7 when he found what he believed to be a mortar round shell. He picked it up, brought it outside, placed it on the front lawn and then called the police.

When officers arrived, they saw the potentially explosive device and closed off the area to cars and pedestrians. The Special Operations Unit placed ballistic blankets near the device in case it detonated. They called in the Westchester County Bomb Squad Unit who identified the device as a World War II 2.36” M87 Practice Bazooka Rocket. The bazooka rocket was xrayed and classified as a “live” practice round. The device was made safe by the Westchester County Police Bomb Squad, and removed from the scene. It will be stored at an undisclosed location for future disposal by the U.S. Military.

Apparently, Mrs. Sloates’ late husband was a World War II veteran who served in the United States Air Force but Mrs. Sloate had no knowledge of what was upstairs. There may be more in your attic than flying squirrels. Watch out!