DAR AL HARB-AUSTRALIA: ROCKET LAUNCHERS FOUND IN DUMP

Man finds rocket launcher at Rockhampton dump


The Defence Department is investigating why a rocket launcher was found by a man at a rubbish tip in central Queensland.

James Maloney said he bought the rocket launcher for $2 at the recycling centre for the tip at Yeppoon, near Rockhampton.

"I work in the local theatre restaurant and wanted to use it as a stage prop," Mr Maloney said.

"But I read in the local paper about the army misplacing rocket launchers and they were worried about them getting in the hands of terrorists, so I thought it might be a good idea I gave it back to the authorities.

"I just wanted to make people aware that these sort of things are floating around and you can come across them at time to time."

But in a worrying sign, Mr Maloney said he handed the rocket launcher to Rockhampton's The Morning Bulletin newspaper and believed it was last seen in the back seat of a reporter's car.

"The police rang me earlier this evening and told me they didn't know where it was so I redirected them back to the reporter ... the last time I saw it, it was sitting on her back seat."

Mr Maloney believes the launcher is an inoperable, single-use model from the Singapore military.

He believes it was used in an exercise at the nearby Shoalwater Bay military training area.

He had seen used shell canisters at the same rubbish tip from time to time, Mr Maloney said.

A Defence department spokeswoman said the department was investigating the matter.


Pertinent Links:

1) Man finds rocket launcher at Rockhampton dump