Shock explosion at market as young child buys grenade for $1 thinking it was a toy

Markets are typically known for offering a wide variety of goods, often at great prices. From clothing and fruit to decorative items and phone cases, almost anything can be found on the streets where vendors set up their stalls. However, what no one could have anticipated at the Sète market in the Montpellier district of France was the discovery of an explosive device.

Child injured from ‘toy’ grenade explosion

The incident took place last week when the boy bought a plaster grenade that, according to the vendor, he believed was a toy. However, this turned out to be far from the truth. The device was triggered by the young boy, causing a violent explosion. While the consequences could have been much worse, the child only suffered minor injuries from the plaster debris, which struck his hands, eyes, and stomach, according to reports from Midi Libre.

“The explosion was violent when he pulled the cord. I was right next to him, about two meters away. The blast was pretty intense,” a witness reported. After the explosion, firefighters arrived at the scene to attend to the boy, who was accompanied by his mother, before he was treated by a doctor.

Military training use grenade

The question now is how such a dangerous device ended up for sale at a market and into the hands of the child. These grenades, which are typically blue in color and used for military training, contain a small explosive charge that releases plaster upon detonation.

As you would expect, the sale of these plaster grenades is prohibited, and their possession is strictly regulated. Authorities revealed that the boy confirmed he purchased the device for one euro (c.$1) from a market vendor. When questioned by the police, the vendor claimed he thought it was simply a toy. He will now have to explain how the grenade ended up in his possession.

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