Tuesday 24 March 2015

Bermondsey bomb: Bid to make World War Two device safe


Army engineer working on the bomb

Army engineers are still working to make an unexploded World War Two bomb safe in south London.
Two primary schools remain closed and hundreds of people spent the night in temporary accommodation after the 1,000lb (454kg) device was found on a building site in Bermondsey on Monday.
A precautionary cordon and 656ft (200m) exclusion zone have been put in place.
Many roads are closed and there is disruption in the area especially around Tower Bridge and Grange Walk.
Building site where the bomb was found
The Met said it was working with the London Fire Brigade, London Ambulance Service and Southwark Council.
Leader of Southwark Council, Councillor Peter John, said: "I can understand how worrying this is for local people, and the council is doing all it can to support them while the emergency services make the area safe."
He said there were "well-rehearsed" emergency plans in place and urged residents to go to one of the council's rest centres in Canada Water for hot meals, tea and coffee.
The London Fire Brigade has attended seven incidents of unexploded World War Two bombs in the past five years.