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Unexploded WWII German bomb found in Portsmouth harbour
WWII bomb found in Portsmouth exploded by Royal Navy squadron
(about 7 hours later)
Cross-channel ferries have been blocked from entering or leaving Portsmouth harbour after engineers dredged up an unexploded German bomb hidden in the mud for more than 70 years.
A controlled explosion has been carried out on a 500lb second world war bomb that was dislodged from the seabed by dredging work for the next generation of Royal Navy aircraft carriers.
A cordon is in place around the harbour until the bomb, the third explosive found there since September, can be towed out to sea to be detonated. It was discovered by a dredging barge that was deepening the harbour before the arrival of the HMS Queen Elizabeth, the Royal Navy’s new 65,000-tonne aircraft carrier.
Disruption was caused to cross-Channel ferries as a 500-metre cordon was placed around the unexploded German bomb found in Portsmouth harbour in Hampshire on Wednesday.
A navy spokesman said: “Another German unexploded bomb has been found in Portsmouth harbour. A 500-metre cordon is in place around the device, which is preventing cross-channel ferries from entering and leaving the ferry port.
As the ordnance was towed out of the harbour and into the Solent, the nearby Gunwharf Quays shopping centre as well as the Portsmouth historic dockyard – home to HMS Victory and the Mary Rose Museum – were evacuated as a precaution, along with residential areas in Old Portsmouth.
“A plan is in place to tow the bomb out of the harbour, where it will be destroyed in open waters by RN bomb disposal experts.”
The bomb was towed to an area east of the Isle of Wight where a controlled explosion was carried out by the navy’s Fleet Diving squadron at 4pm.
We are currently experiencing delays due to discovery of unexploded WW2 bomb in Portsmouth Harbour. Will update asap.
Second World War bomb found in #Portsmouth Harbour is destroyed by explosive experts https://t.co/q401pwskbq pic.twitter.com/PIVK2rOA0S
A spokesperson for Hampshire constabulary said: “We can confirm we are supporting the Royal Navy this morning following the discovery of a piece of historic ordnance in Portsmouth harbour. EOD [Explosive Ordnance Disposal] are currently on the scene assessing the device. As a precaution, a cordon has been set up around the immediate area.”
An area of restricted airspace was also established until the bomb had been destroyed.
Passengers waiting to disembark at the port were left stuck out at sea as ferries queued to get into the harbour.
The discovery came after a 1,100lb German bomb was found at the end of September by the dredging barge, which caused the nearby Gunwharf Quays retail and leisure centre to be evacuated. A torpedo was also found earlier in September.
Ferry operator Condor Ferries said in a statement: “Due to a possible unexploded ordinance found in Portsmouth harbour, the harbour is currently closed. Commodore Clipper is currently holding outside the harbour and we will send out an update once further information is received.”
Del McKnight, the squadron’s commanding officer, said: “Last year we had more than 450 callouts around the UK so this is really business as usual for us.
A spokeswoman for Portsmouth International Port estimated it would take “several hours” to dispose of the bomb.
“We’ve had more callouts to Portsmouth than we would usually see because of the extent of the dredging works being done to make way for HMS Queen Elizabeth, but we have teams on standby at 10 minutes’ notice around the UK ready to deal with these things.”
Two ferries – the Brittany Ferries Normandy, from France, and the Condor Clipper, from the Channel Islands – were waiting to dock.
A navy spokesman said: “The device was found by a dredging barge carrying out work in the harbour before the arrival of HMS Queen Elizabeth – the Navy’s new 65,000-tonne aircraft carrier – into the naval base next spring.”
Portsmouth, on the Hampshire coast, is home to the navy’s largest dockyard and was a major target of German bombers during the second world war. A 1,100lb (500kg) German bomb was found at the end of September by the dredging barge, which led to the evacuation of the nearby Gunwharf Quays retail and leisure centre.
