London: A 500kg German-made World War II bomb, unearthed in a garden in Britain’s Plymouth, led to the evacuation of thousands of residents. The bomb, found on St Michael Avenue—a residential area housing 4,300 properties and around 10,000 people—was safely disposed of at sea on Friday, following stringent security protocols detailed by CNN.
Upon its discovery, authorities swiftly cordoned off a section of the southern city and deployed elite bomb disposal specialists from the Armed Forces to assess the situation.
After careful evaluation, it was determined that the safest course of action was to detonate the 500kg bomb at sea. This decision triggered a coordinated effort, leading to road closures and the suspension of rail and bus services in the vicinity as the bomb was meticulously transported via lorry through the city streets.
Ultimately, the device was safely transported by boat, at least 14 meters into the sea, before a controlled detonation was carried out.
“The last few days will go down in history for Plymouth. This war-time bomb has really brought out a war-time spirit, people coming together to really support each other and whilst it has been really tough – we got through it,” remarked Tudor Evans, leader of Plymouth City Council.
Staff at The Box, a cultural space and museum in the city, offered insights into the bomb’s origin, suggesting it was likely dropped on April 22 or April 23, 1941. According to the BBC, approximately 1,362 bombs exploded in Plymouth city during World War II.
