The realization that it could have turned out very differently is definitely there a day later. Still, the two boys who found a working phosphor bomb in Rimburg on Monday evening, continue with their hobby.
Tuesday afternoon they went back to the place where the adventure took place, along the Worm near Rimburg. The spot where the bomb eventually exploded is still clearly visible. A tree is covered with ‘phosphorus spots’ and the bushes around it have burned away, as it were. Further on is some old iron, which they had previously fished up with their magnets. The bomb, which caused all the consternation, followed soon after.
No idea
“We had just been going for ten minutes and I had no idea what I had in my hands. But when it started to smoke, I immediately knew this was not right, although I thought it wouldn’t explode anymore. But we got it anyway but put it aside and called the police”, Alex Boschitsch now looks back.
Huge bang
When the police and fire brigade arrived, the area was immediately cordoned off, local residents had to leave their homes and everyone was put at a distance. The bomb exploded after half an hour. “That was bizarrely hard, I’ve never experienced that. Harder than the most illegal fireworks. The fire brigade and people from the EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal Service) also said they had never experienced this before.”
Also read: Fished up phosphorus bomb explodes in Rimburg: ‘No one injured’
fireball
Phosphorus bombs are used in war to inflict as much damage as possible. Normally the bomb explodes first, after which the phosphorus causes everything in the area to burn. A fireball is created. But Monday evening the reverse happened, first the phosphorus ran out of the bomb, after which it exploded a while after. Probably because it has been damaged over the years. “That was our luck, because otherwise we would not have been able to retell this,” said the two magnet fishermen from Heerlen and Landgraaf.
Beginners (un) luck
And that while they had only been working on their new hobby for three weeks. Beginner’s luck or beginner’s misfortune? “We are still a bit in two minds, but we will continue with our hobby. Although we will pay more attention through this adventure and try to keep the risks as small as possible. But for this you do it in the end, for the adventure and the tension.”