NEW DELHI: An unexploded bomb, which led to one of the largest evacuation since World War-II was safely detonated at sea in England, according to the ministry of defence, reported AP
A 500-kilogram (1,100-pound) explosive was found on Tuesday in the backyard of a residence in Plymouth, a coastal city in southwestern Britain. To guarantee the safety of over 10,000 residents, an evacuation was conducted.The unexploded bomb was then transported through a densely populated residential zone via a military convoy to a ferry slipway near the HMNB Devonport base as it was safely taken out to sea.
The munition, recognized as a World War Two – designated SC-500, an air-dropped German bomb, was deemed to pose a considerable threat to public safety. This assessment led to the evacuation of residents within a radius of about 300 meter, according to a press release on the UK government website.
More than 100 personnel from the British Army and Royal Navy and more than”30 of the Armed Forces’ most experienced bomb disposal specialists” were involved in the operation, as mentioned in the press statement.
The press release also had a statement from defence secretary Grant Shapps who thanked all the personnel involved and said, “I would like to express my thanks to all our personnel involved in this highly complex operation, who worked both night and day this week to keep the public safe and minimise the risk of damage, as well as the public for their patience and cooperation.”
Tudor Evans, the leader of Plymouth City Council, said, “I think it is fair to say that the last few days will go down in history for Plymouth.”
During World War II, Plymouth, which has been home to major naval bases for centuries, endured extensive bombings. Local officials report that 1,174 civilians were killed in 59 air raids, and nearly 3,800 homes were destroyed while another 18,000 suffered heavy damage.
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