A major overnight operation in Plymouth saw around 800 residents evacuated from their homes after the discovery of a 50kg Nazi bomb from the Second World War. The device was safely transported to sea and destroyed in a controlled explosion in the early hours of Friday morning.
Night-Time Evacuation and Delicate Operation
The major incident was declared on Wednesday after the unexploded ordnance was found on a building site in the city. A second device was also discovered in Exmouth marina, dredged from the water by a local who spotted the 'very large' object.
In Plymouth, a security cordon was established along the convoy route for the bomb, remaining in place from 11pm on Thursday until 3am on Friday. Bleary-eyed locals were roused from their beds to ensure their safety as the complex removal got underway.
Royal Navy bomb disposal experts worked with Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) officials to secure the German SC50 device. It was carefully loaded into a vehicle and driven in a military convoy to King Point Marina.
Controlled Detonation at Sea
From the marina, the historic bomb was placed onto a small RIB boat. A couple of specialists accompanied it out to sea for the final phase of the operation. Just before 3am, Plymouth City Council confirmed the controlled detonation had been successful.
The council stated: 'Military Operation now complete. The operation to safely remove and dispose of the wartime device in Millbay has been successfully completed and people can return to their homes.'
They thanked the public for their patience and cooperation, as well as council staff, police, and the Royal Navy for their work during the 48-hour mission.
Second Device Detonated and Community Impact
A few hours later, at 8.13am on Friday, the second WWII bomb found in Exmouth's marina was also detonated on the seabed. Assistant Chief Constable Nikki Leaper of Devon and Cornwall Police told the BBC that experts had worked long hours to bring the situation to a safe conclusion quickly.
Across the two-day operation, up to 5,000 people were temporarily displaced. A secondary school was forced to close on Thursday, and residents living within 400 metres (1,300ft) of the devices were warned to stay away. Around 100 people slept in makeshift accommodation at Exmouth's leisure centre on Wednesday night.
Despite the disruption, some locals displayed typical British defiance. One cafe, Blooming Brew in Plymouth, which sat just outside the cordon, told customers: 'No WW2 bomb will stop us from closing. We are still open today.' Exmouth resident Eleanor Bradburn, after being evacuated, simply said: 'I just grabbed a few things... and went to the pub.'
For some in Plymouth, the news had a sense of grim familiarity. One social media user posted a meme referencing 'Brenda from Bristol' and her famous reaction to another election: 'You're joking, not another one!' – a sentiment echoing the area's unfortunate history with unexploded wartime relics.
