Six World War II German artillery shells were found just outside the Naval Support Activity Naples, Italy, fence line by Italian construction workers Saturday afternoon.

The workers found the shells about 3 p.m. as they dug in the area less than 100 yards from the BEQ 1 barracks and notified base security. The barracks was not evacuated.

Within minutes, base security personnel blocked the on-base portion of the perimeter.

A base military working dog team also was brought in and the dog indicated a positive for explosives.

Italian military and civilian authorities arrived around 4 p.m. and suspended further excavation until the following morning.

Around 9 a.m. Sunday, Italian explosive ordnance disposal personnel removed the six shells and base security reopened the fence line.

According to the base public affairs officer, Lt. Cmdr. Jacky Fisher, an Italian army official said there is a request to investigate the area for more ordnance within the next three weeks.

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