Fake Bomb Scare Halts Trash Collection in Paraná

A discarded decorative item sparked a major security alert in Ponta Grossa, Paraná, on Monday, temporarily halting municipal waste collection services. The incident began when sanitation workers discovered a suspicious package that resembled an explosive device, prompting an immediate response from the Polícia Militar (PM).

The situation escalated quickly, leading to the mobilization of a specialized bomb disposal unit and the isolation of a waste management facility for several hours. However, the object was ultimately confirmed to be a harmless art project, created years earlier by a local couple using recycled materials.

The alarm was raised shortly after midday when sanitation workers arrived at their company's headquarters. After completing their initial route, the crew opened a bag of electronic waste they had collected to ensure proper sorting. Inside, they found a highly realistic replica of a bomb, complete with four cylindrical objects wrapped in tape and connected by wires to what appeared to be a timer.

According to reports, the workers had initially separated the bag from organic waste and placed it in the truck's cab, believing it contained valuable electronics. It was only upon closer inspection at the depot that the full, alarming nature of the object became clear. Faced with a credible threat, the workers followed company safety protocols and immediately contacted the authorities.

• Four cylinders resembling explosive charges
• Wiring connected to a timer-like device
• Wrapped in tape for a realistic effect
• Mixed in with old electronics and a flashlight

Upon receiving the call, the Polícia Militar arrived at the scene around noon. Officers swiftly established a security perimeter, evacuating the waste company's facility and closing nearby streets to civilian traffic. Recognizing the potential danger, command requested assistance from the Batalhão de Operações Especiais (BOPE) bomb squad, which was dispatched from Curitiba to handle the potential explosive.

While the elite unit was en route, local police officers on the scene conducted a preliminary visual assessment of the object. Based on their evaluation, they determined the device was not a genuine threat. This crucial finding allowed authorities to lift the lockdown approximately two hours after it began, preventing a prolonged disruption to the city's services and avoiding unnecessary risk to the specialized team still traveling to the location.

The area was liberated about two hours after the start of the isolation.

Investigators quickly traced the origin of the suspicious bag by reviewing surveillance footage from the collection truck. The footage led them to a specific residential address, where they spoke with the 23-year-old homeowner. She confirmed she had placed the bag in her trash bin, explaining that the object was a decorative piece belonging to her 26-year-old fiancé.

The couple informed police that the replica had been in their possession since 2017. The fiancé, an artist, had constructed the prop himself using recycled materials, specifically cardboard and other scrap items, as a creative imitation of an explosive device. The decision to discard the item was purely practical: the cardboard had become worn and damaged over the years, prompting the couple to dispose of it alongside other broken electronics during a recent house cleaning.

It was a decoration made with recyclable materials, belonging to my fiancé.

Following the discovery of the object's harmless nature, the replica was handed over to the BOPE team for a final, thorough examination. The case has since been transferred to the Polícia Civil (Civil Police) for further investigation. Authorities are now reviewing the circumstances to determine if the incident qualifies as a false communication of crime, a serious offense under Brazilian law.

The identities of the couple responsible for discarding the item have not been released to the public. Meanwhile, the waste management company confirmed that despite the temporary interruption, all scheduled trash collections for the day were successfully completed. The event serves as a cautionary tale about the unintended consequences of discarding realistic-looking props.

• BOPE team collected the replica for analysis
• Civil Police are investigating potential legal charges
• Names of the couple have not been publicly identified
• All waste collection routes were eventually serviced