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Some residents on the 1900 block of 12th Street S.W. were forced from their homes Saturday after a man found what appeared to be a grenade in his backyard, police said.

Police were called to the southwest community of Mount Royal about 3:50 p.m. after a man doing yard work in his backyard dug up the possible explosive “with the pin still in it.”

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Photo by Photo courtesy / homeowner

A man and his son who live at the home said they were digging out an old stump in the backyard when they discovered the object about 30 centimetres below ground. They first thought the possible explosive was a rock, but called police after picking up the object.

Bomb technicians with the Calgary Police Service were on scene Saturday afternoon. Police said it was determined the grenade was “most likely” a live explosive and the object was removed from the community, adding it’s routine for police to perform a controlled detonation of any object they believe to be an explosive device.

Police had the area blocked off for hours as officers worked to ensure the safety of residents, who were finally able to return to their homes just after 6 p.m.

Photo by Gavin Young / Postmedia

Photo by Gavin Young / Postmedia

Photo by Gavin Young / Postmedia

– With files from Gavin Young.

RRumbolt@postmedia.com

On Twitter: @RCRumbolt