Nassau County police responded when a woman cleaning her basement...

Nassau County police responded when a woman cleaning her basement in Bethpage discovered a WW II era grenade. Credit: Jonathan Singh

A woman discovered what appeared to be a historic — and possibly explosive — WW II artifact Wednesday morning in her Bethpage home, Nassau police said.

As the woman, 60, was cleaning her basement about 10:53 a.m., she stumbled upon "a possible explosive device," the Nassau County Police Department said in a news release. When officers arrived at her home, they requested the Emergency Services Unit and Arson Bomb Squad detectives.

The detectives "deemed the item to potentially be a World War II style grenade," police said. The "suspicious item" was secured, removed from the home and transported to "a safe location" before the department destroyed it, the release said.

An investigation into the incident remains ongoing, but police said there is no risk to the public.

Get the latest news and more great videos at NewsdayTV Credit: Newsday

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Will Nassau refund illegal ticket fees? ... Yankee rookie impresses ... LI Volunteers: Giving back to nature ... Factory-built homes on LI ... Get the latest news and more great videos at NewsdayTV

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