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Bermondsey bomb destroyed in controlled blast heard 10 miles ​away Bermondsey bomb destroyed in controlled blast heard 10 miles ​away
(about 2 hours later)
A second world war bomb uncovered in south London could have caused “major loss of life” and significant damage to buildings if it had exploded, the soldier in charge of removing it has said.A second world war bomb uncovered in south London could have caused “major loss of life” and significant damage to buildings if it had exploded, the soldier in charge of removing it has said.
Senior ammunition technician John Lester said the 250kg (550lb) German device discovered in Bermondsey on Monday was a “a live munition in a dangerous condition” that had to be taken far from the city before it could be safely destroyed.Senior ammunition technician John Lester said the 250kg (550lb) German device discovered in Bermondsey on Monday was a “a live munition in a dangerous condition” that had to be taken far from the city before it could be safely destroyed.
The Luftwaffe Sprengbombe-Cylindrisch bomb, which forced the evacuation of homes within a 200m radius when it was uncovered by builders, was blown up near the river Thames at Cliffe, in northern Kent, at 9am on Wednesday, the Ministry of Defence said. It said it received reports that the explosion was heard 10 miles away. The Luftwaffe Sprengbombe-Cylindrisch bomb, which forced the evacuation of homes within a 200 metre radius when it was uncovered by builders, was blown up near the river Thames at Cliffe, in northern Kent, at 9am on Wednesday, the Ministry of Defence said. It said it received reports that the explosion was heard 10 miles away.
Lester, of 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Royal Logistic Corps, said: “This bomb was a live munition in a dangerous condition. It had been disturbed by some pretty heavy building machinery, which is never a good thing. Bombs don’t like being bashed around.Lester, of 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Royal Logistic Corps, said: “This bomb was a live munition in a dangerous condition. It had been disturbed by some pretty heavy building machinery, which is never a good thing. Bombs don’t like being bashed around.
“But once we’d uncovered it, we knew what we were dealing with and it was just a question of solving the puzzle quickly so we could get it away and the good residents of Bermondsey back in their homes.“But once we’d uncovered it, we knew what we were dealing with and it was just a question of solving the puzzle quickly so we could get it away and the good residents of Bermondsey back in their homes.
“We knew we had to get it away to dispose of it safely because trying to deal on-site with a bomb that size, even under a controlled explosion, would cause significant damage to buildings, and the risk of major loss of life in such a highly populated part of the city was very high.”“We knew we had to get it away to dispose of it safely because trying to deal on-site with a bomb that size, even under a controlled explosion, would cause significant damage to buildings, and the risk of major loss of life in such a highly populated part of the city was very high.”
Buildings around The Grange were evacuated as British Army bomb disposal experts and engineers built a protective “igloo” around the 1.5m-long (5ft) device in case of accidental detonation. The igloo was created from Hesco blast walls, like those used to build Camp Bastion and other military bases in Afghanistan during the conflict there. Buildings were evacuated as British army bomb disposal experts and engineers built a protective “igloo” around the 1.5m-long (5ft) device in case of accidental detonation. The igloo was created from Hesco blast walls, like those used to build Camp Bastion and other military bases in Afghanistan during the conflict there.
The bomb was excavated on Tuesday night by teams who had previously worked on improvised explosive devices in Afghanistan and Northern Ireland. It was then transported to a site in Kent owned by Brett Aggregates for the detonation, allowing people in Bermondsey to return to their homes.The bomb was excavated on Tuesday night by teams who had previously worked on improvised explosive devices in Afghanistan and Northern Ireland. It was then transported to a site in Kent owned by Brett Aggregates for the detonation, allowing people in Bermondsey to return to their homes.
Simon Hughes, the Lib Dem MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark, tweeted: “Thank u 2 members of the Armed Forces & all involved in moving the UXB 2 Kent today & grateful 2 local Bermondsey residents 4 patience.”Simon Hughes, the Lib Dem MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark, tweeted: “Thank u 2 members of the Armed Forces & all involved in moving the UXB 2 Kent today & grateful 2 local Bermondsey residents 4 patience.”