Emergency response activated in Kaunas after suspected explosive found in Riflemen’s Union building

A suspected artillery shell discovered in the basement of the Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union (LŠS) headquarters on Laisvės Avenue in Kaunas triggered an emergency response on Wednesday, with authorities activating the “Skydas” (Shield) contingency plan, LRT.lt reports.

Police received a report at 11:08 AM that an object resembling an explosive device had been found while workers cleared the basement. The item is preliminarily believed to be an artillery shell, though details remain under verification.

Kaunas Police spokesperson Odeta Vaitkevičienė confirmed the evacuation of personnel and the implementation of the “Skydas” protocol. “People were evacuated, and the site is being secured,” she stated.

Aušra Garnienė, a representative of the Riflemen’s Union, told LRT.lt that the object resembled an “old explosive.” Emergency services—including firefighters, paramedics, and police—responded to the scene. Bomb disposal experts from the Aro (Air Force) unit were summoned to safely handle the find.

The Riflemen’s Union, a voluntary national defence organisation, occupies the building where the discovery was made. Authorities have not yet confirmed the origin or exact nature of the suspected explosive.