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Spitalfields market evacuated due to unexploded bomb Spitalfields market evacuated due to unexploded bomb
(about 1 hour later)
One of Britain’s most popular markets has been evacuated after an unexploded second world war bomb was discovered. One of Britain’s most popular markets was evacuated after an unexploded second world war bomb was discovered.
Spitalfields in central London was cleared after the device was found at a nearby construction site at about 9.45am on Thursday. It is believed the shell was dropped during German raids in the early 1940s, according to police. Spitalfields in east London was cleared after the device was found at a nearby construction site at about 9.45am on Thursday.
Several businesses closed as a precautionary measure and a police cordon was in place at the junction of Commercial Street and Brushfield Street while specialist officers attempted to remove it. Several businesses were closed as a precautionary measure and a police cordon was in place at the junction of Commercial Street and Brushfield Street while specialist officers attempted to remove the bomb, thought to have been dropped in a German raid.
A Metropolitan police spokesman said: “Explosives officers are on scene. Please avoid the area whilst emergency services deal with the incident. The shell is believed to be second world war ordnance.” Around midday, traders were told it was safe for them to return to their stalls. Kenny, a bag designer who has worked at the market for nine and a half years, said an orange digger at the construction site across the road had come into contact with the ordnance when businesses were still setting up shop.
“We were all evacuated at 10 o clock this morning and let back in at 12,” he said. “We had to go the back of the other side of the building to the fire and safety area.
“Two thousand five hundred people in this building – all the shops and restaurateurs all had to leave.”
An office worker, Georgia, who works at a nearby bank on Liverpool Street, said her colleagues had been eating at a Giraffe restaurant when they were told they had to leave because an unexploded bomb had been found.
A jewellery designer, Gavin, said he had heard from other traders that two unexploded devices had been found, but this was not officially confirmed.
This year residents in Bethnal Green and Bermondsey in London were evacuated after similar bombs were discovered.This year residents in Bethnal Green and Bermondsey in London were evacuated after similar bombs were discovered.