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WW2 bomb to be blown up as 1,200 homes evacuated
A World War II bomb was found at a Plymouth building site, prompting the evacuation of about 1,200 homes within a 400m exclusion zone. Authorities described safety measures, including a sand containment structure, as they prepared a planned controlled explosion for May 1, 2026.
Why It Matters
The incident shows how historical ordnance can still pose today’s public safety risks and require large-scale evacuations and complex mitigation to protect communities.
Timeline
11 Events
Destruction of the bomb scheduled for Friday May 1, 2026
April 30, 2026
The bomb is set to be destroyed in a controlled explosion on Friday, May 1, 2026, with mitigation measures in place to limit damage.
Context: WWII bombardment and unexploded ordnance still found
April 30, 2026
The city was heavily bombed during World War Two and unexploded ordnance is still occasionally discovered.
Cordon extension not planned; safety guidance issued
April 30, 2026
Devon and Cornwall Police said there were no plans to extend the cordon, but warned the situation could change based on safety advice.
Nearby schools remain closed on Friday
April 30, 2026
Oakwood Primary School, Little Acorns Pre-School and Beechwood Primary School announced they would remain closed on Friday as safety operations continued.
Evacuation centre opened and hotel arrangements made
April 30, 2026
Southway Youth and Community Centre was opened as an evacuation centre, and Plymouth City Council arranged hotel accommodation for those unable to stay with friends or family.
Cordons and re-entry restrictions announced
April 30, 2026
People inside the exclusion zone were told to leave. Police and the Royal Navy warned that no one should re-enter until the operation was complete.
Mitigation plan described for safe destruction
April 30, 2026
The officer said they would deflagrate the item inside a structure formed from sand to limit damage to surrounding buildings and ensure the least amount of blast escapes the area.
Night work to build sand containment
April 30, 2026
Teams were working through the night to place large quantities of sand around the bomb to limit blast and fragmentation during the planned explosion.
Fuse assessment prevents moving the bomb
April 30, 2026
Explosives officer Col Nick Handy said the 250kg German SC250 bomb could not be moved because one fuse could not be fully assessed and a definitive X-ray for the second fuse could not be obtained, making safe handling impossible.
Bomb discovered at building site in Plymouth
April 30, 2026
A World War Two bomb was found at a building site in the Southway area. More than 1,200 nearby homes were evacuated within a 400-metre exclusion zone as safety operations began.
Keyham bomb evacuation (historic reference)
February 2024
In February 2024, more than 10,000 people were evacuated from homes in the Keyham area of Plymouth after a separate wartime bomb was found in a back garden.