- An unexploded Second World War bomb found in Plymouth will be transported in a military convoy on Friday for disposal at sea.
- The bomb was discovered in a residential yard and is considered too risky to detonate at the location due to possible major damage to homes.
- Devon and Cornwall Police announced the evacuation of more than 3,000 people from their homes along the convoy route.
An unexploded bomb from World War II will be transported by a military convoy through the southwestern English city of Plymouth on Friday and disposed of at sea.
Devon and Cornwall Police said the bomb, which was found in a residential yard on Tuesday, will be taken to the Torpoint Ferry slipway to be disposed of in the sea beyond the breakwater.
More than 3,000 people have been evacuated from their homes and those living near the convoy route should also leave their homes. The trip is expected to take about 20 minutes.
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The decision to move the bomb was made after an assessment by bomb disposal experts concluded that there would be too high a risk of significant damage, including the destruction of several homes, if the device were detonated in the yard.
Emergency workers gather near the Torpoint Ferry crossing in Plymouth as preparations are made to transport a Second World War bomb discovered in the Keyham area. The bomb will be taken in a military convoy to the Torpoint ferry slipway for disposal at sea. (Ben Birchall/PA Images via Getty Images)
“That's the least impact option,” Superintendent Phil Williams said. “There is obviously an element of risk and it has been assessed by the military and deemed to be the lowest risk.”
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It is expected that those affected by the cordon will be able to return to their homes on Friday at 5:00 p.m.
The main train line into the city will be closed as it passes through the cordon, while ferries will be suspended and buses will be diverted. Schools and nurseries also closed to allow the operation to take place, while all businesses within the cordon were ordered to evacuate.
