After days of disruption caused by the discovery of a World War Two bomb, thousands of people evacuated from their homes in Plymouth have returned. More than 10,000 people had to move out of the area around Keyham as a convoy of military vehicles carried away the unexploded device. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said the 500kg (1,102lb) bomb, found on Tuesday, was detonated at 21:51 GMT on Friday. The bomb was transported through the city to Torpoint Ferry slipway, where it was taken out to sea and detonated.
Resident Elle Clarke, who was reunited with her pets, said she was glad it was over. Like many people, Ms Clarke, who was sent to a leisure centre, had to leave a number of pets in her home. “It’s been inconvenient, but I’m glad there’s been a conclusion to the situation,” she said. Joe Pearse, who lives in St Michael Avenue where the bomb was found, said he was now involved with neighbours in a “major clear-up”. “I didn’t know many of my neighbours before, but this has brought people closer,” he said.
About 10,320 people and 1,219 properties were affected by the 300m (984ft) cordon placed along the route. Plymouth Police Commander, Ch Supt Matt Longman, formerly Twitter, wrote that police were “right alongside communities as they get back to normal life”. “The success last night was amazing, but work continues today,” he said. “We’re visiting every house in the area just to ensure people are safe and sound.”
Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said: “I would like to express my thanks to all our personnel involved in this highly complex operation, who worked both night and day this week to keep the public safe and minimise the risk of damage, as well as the public for their patience and cooperation. The success of this operation is testament to the level of skill and expertise across our armed forces, as well as the bravery and fortitude of our personnel when faced with high-risk situations and working under extreme pressure.”
The discovery of the bomb in a garden prompted “one of the largest UK peacetime evacuation operations”, according to the MoD. Bomb disposal specialists worked around the clock to assess the condition of the device, an air-dropped German bomb, designated SC-500, which was discovered at a garden on St Michael Avenue. Lt Col Rob Swan, who was at the scene, explained that, before detonation, the bomb would be taken to a depth of at least 14m (46ft) before a diver would place a charge to ignite the explosive. Council leader Tudor Evans said: “I think it is fair to say that the last few days will go down in history for Plymouth.
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