WW2 bomb to be blown up as 1,200 homes evacuated in Plymouth

A 250kg German World War Two bomb discovered at a building site in Plymouth is set to be destroyed in a controlled explosion.

Authorities have evacuated more than 1,200 homes within a 400-metre exclusion zone around the site in the Southway area of the city.

The bomb's fuses could not be fully assessed, making it unsafe to move.

Col Nick Handy, the senior explosives officer leading the operation, explained that X-ray examinations failed to provide a clear picture of one of the fuses, preventing safe removal.

To mitigate damage, teams are working overnight to build large sand structures around the bomb.

These are intended to limit blast effects and fragmentation during the controlled detonation.

Residents inside the cordon have been instructed to leave their homes, with police and the Royal Navy enforcing the exclusion zone until the operation is complete.

An evacuation centre has been opened at Southway Youth and Community Centre, and hotel accommodation arranged for those unable to stay with friends or family.

Several local schools, including Oakwood Primary, Little Acorns Pre-School, and Beechwood Primary, will remain closed on the day of the operation.

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