Western Australia Police Force said Monday that a joint investigation has been launched into the origins of an “unidentified item’’ washed up on a remote beach in Green Head, north of Perth.
“In order to maintain the integrity of the investigation, officers from the Western Australia Police Force are currently guarding the object,’’ the police said in a statement.
“The object is being treated as hazardous until the origin of it can be established. People in the area should keep a safe distance,’’ the authority noted.
It added that the object did not appear to have originated from a commercial aircraft.
Local resident Garth Griffiths told Australian Broadcasting Corporation that the item found on Sunday is about 2.5 meters across by 2.5 to 3 meters long.
“Sometime yesterday, a local lady and her partner discovered it just floating on the edge of the water and dragged it out with their four-wheel drive,’’ he said.
On Monday afternoon, the Australian Space Agency (ASA) said on social media that the object could be from a foreign space launch vehicle.
The agency was liaising with global counterparts who may be able to provide more information.
“As the origin of the object is unknown, the community should avoid handling or attempting to move the object,’’ the ASA warned.
