More than a thousand homes have been evacuated in Plymouth as bomb disposal experts prepare to carry out a controlled detonation of an unexploded Second World War device unearthed at a building site.
The 250kg German SC250 bomb was discovered on Thursday at Flamborough Road in Southway, prompting a major safety operation. Following a detailed assessment, Royal Navy and Army specialists concluded that the explosive could not be safely moved and must be detonated where it lies.
Plymouth City Council confirmed that a 400-metre cordon remained in place around the site. In a statement, a council spokesman said: “Royal Navy and Army unexploded ordnance specialists have now completed a rigorous and detailed assessment of the device. They have advised that it is not possible to safely remove it. The only safe option is to make the device safe in situ, which will involve a controlled detonation.”
Ahead of the planned blast, specialists have been constructing what officials described as a “sand mitigation structure” designed to absorb the force of the explosion. Residents have been urged to keep their distance from the affected area.
“You will not be able to see the detonation and people are asked to stay well away from the area,” the council spokesman added. “A no-fly zone is also in place – drones are not permitted.”
The discovery of the device — a relic of wartime bombing raids on the city — triggered the precautionary evacuation of more than 1,000 homes, with the cordon expected to remain until the operation is complete.
