Plymouth bomb

A historic World War Two bomb in Plymouth was successfully detonated after evacuating over 1,260 households. The controlled explosion occurred on May 1, 2026, at a building site in Southway where the 250kg German SC250 air-dropped weapon had been discovered.

The bomb was deemed too unstable to move, prompting authorities to detonate it in situ. A 400-metre cordon was established around the site, leading to the evacuation of homes and the closure of three local schools during the operation.

Plymouth City Council confirmed that an evacuation centre was set up at the Southway Youth and Community Centre to assist displaced residents. Around 450 tonnes of sand were placed around the bomb to mitigate the impact of the blast.

Residents received instructions to leave windows open and turn off water before the explosion. Smoke was visible in the area following the detonation, and debris resulted from the controlled explosion.

Colonel Nick Handy noted that officials had to be realistic about potential damage from the blast. He stated, “When that thing goes ‘bang’, there will be damage.” This highlights the risks associated with handling unexploded ordnance.

Local resident reactions varied; one unnamed individual remarked, “There was a big, big bang, you couldn’t miss this one.” Councillor Sally Haydon expressed gratitude towards the bomb disposal teams for their efforts, saying, “Our heartfelt thanks go to the brave Army and Royal Navy unexploded ordnance specialists who have worked tirelessly over recent days.”