Evacuation of homes near bomb ‘among the largest since Second World War’

The evacuation of people living near to where an unexploded bomb was found in Plymouth is one of the largest of its kind since the Second World War, the Ministry of Defence has said.

Devon and Cornwall Police were called on Tuesday morning to St Michael Avenue in the Key ham area of plymouth after the object, which is believed to date from the Second World

War, was discovered in a garden. Since then, a 300-metre cordon has been put in place around the site, affecting 1,219 properties and an estimated 3,250 people.

The MOD posted on X, formerly Twitter, yesterday: “One of the largest UK peacetime evacuation operations since WW2 is underway in Plymouth, where @Britisharmyand @Royalnavy have been working round the clock to make safe a 500kg unexploded bomb.

“Personnel are working with @plymouthcc & emergency services to evacuate residents .”

The Government’s emergency alert, first tested last April, was sent to all phones nearby warning them to evacuate.

Yesterday, Plymouth City Council announced that the bomb would be taken by military convoy to the Torpoint Ferry slipway to be disposed of at sea.

People living within 300 metres of the route the bomb was set to travel were told they must leave their homes by 2 pm for their own safety.

An alert was sent to mobile devices in the area shortly after 12pm yesterday, stating: “Severe Alert. Issued by Plymouth City Council.

“The WWII bomb found in Keyham will be transported today 23 February 2024 at 2pm to Torpoint Ferry slipway via Saltash Road. A time limited cordon will be in place along this route between 2pm until an estimated 5pm. You are asked to leave and stay away from the cordoned area for this time period.”

Plymouth City Council said the decision to remove the device and take it to the slipway was considered the “safest and least impactful option”.

An assessment found that if the bomb was detonated where it was found, there would be too high a risk of significant damage – including the destruction of a number of houses, the council said.