Exeter WW2 bomb: 2,600 homes being evacuatedon February 27, 2021 at 11:07 am

- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -

Royal Navy bomb disposal specialists are dealing with a 2.5m (8ft) device.

Exeter bomb. Pic: Deborah Leighton Plom

image copyrightDeborah Leighton Plom

More than 2,600 households have been evacuated after an unexploded World War Two bomb was found in Exeter.

Officers were called to University of Exeter halls of residence on Glenthorne Road at about 09:20 GMT on Friday and declared a major incident.

Hundreds of students were initially evacuated from 12 halls of residence after the explosive was found.

Devon and Cornwall Police said army bomb specialists were dealing with the device.

On Twitter, the university said the device was discovered by “builders on private land” next to the Streatham campus.

An initial cordon of 330ft (100m) was extended to 1,310ft (400m) on Saturday morning and people in about 2,600 households have been told to move.

Bomb disposal experts started examining the device at about 10:00 GMT on Saturday to decide how to deal with it.

Insp Sean Roper, of Devon and Cornwall Police, said resolving the situation would “take some time” because of the “considerable size” of the bomb.

The explosive device is estimated to be about 8ft long (2.5m).

Police said they hoped the operation would be completed “by the end of today … but will be guided by the bomb disposal team”.

The force added: “Residents should be reassured that military, police and partners are working to maintain public safety.”

Road closed at Exeter bomb scene

The BBC’s John Ayres said there had been “unusual scenes” of “hundreds of students with suitcases, all marching down the street towards St David’s [railway] Station, away from the university and finding somewhere to go”.

One student, Lucy, told the BBC she was in a hall just over 330ft (100m) away from the scene when she and neighbours were told to leave at about 18:00 on Friday, given dinner and moved to hotels.

She said: “We’ve been told we’ll be staying here until Sunday.”

She added: “I didn’t think it was that big a deal until I realised how big it was and how people were taking it so seriously.”

The university said it would “support those who are affected until the situation is resolved and buildings are reopened”.

It said: “We will communicate directly later today by email with those students who have been relocated.”

The university said on Friday night it could not say exactly how many students were moved as “obviously many students are not back on campus because of the Covid-19 situation”.

Exeter students being moved from halls

Coastguard rescue officers, volunteers from Dartmoor Search and Rescue and members of disaster response charity Re:Act were among workers helping with the evacuation.

Re:Act said the evacuations were completed by about 11:00.

Exeter City Council said no evacuation centres had been set up and people affected had been encouraged to stay with relatives.

Roads have been closed in the area and city rail services disrupted as a result of the discovery.

The city was heavily attacked by German bombers in 19 raids during World War Two, particularly in May 1942 during the Baedecker Raids.

presentational grey line

Follow BBC News South West on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk.

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

- Advertisement -

Discover

Sponsor

Latest

Poland border crisis: What happens to migrants who are turned away?on November 21, 2021 at 12:09 am

Poland and Lithuania are increasingly sending migrants back to Belarus - but is this legal?

Liberal Democrats propose ‘sovereign green wealth fund’on March 21, 2021 at 2:48 pm

Sir Ed Davey calls for profits from green projects to be invested into climate action and jobs.image copyrightReutersThe Liberal Democrats want the government to...

South Africa collapse as India win first Teston December 30, 2021 at 11:18 am

India wrap up a comfortable 113-run win over South Africa just after lunch on day five of the first Test.

Pressure grows on Boris Johnson after Partygate reporton May 31, 2022 at 1:22 pm

Another Tory MP calls on Boris Johnson to resign, and an ex-minister hits out at leadership "failures".Image source, Getty ImagesBoris Johnson's premiership is coming...

Russia-Ukraine crisis: UK sending weapons to defend Ukraine, says defence secretaryon January 17, 2022 at 10:15 pm

The defence secretary says he is sending short-range anti-tank missiles amid Russian invasion fears.The defence secretary says he is sending short-range anti-tank missiles amid...