Abdelrahman
Over 150 World War II-era bombs have been discovered beneath a children’s playground in northern England, raising concerns that additional explosives may still be buried in the area, according to officials.
The explosive findings emerged during ongoing renovations at Scotts Park playground in Wooler, a quaint town in Northumberland close to the Scottish border. As reported by the BBC, construction workers unearthed a “suspicious object” on January 14 while excavating for the playground foundation. This object was identified as a practice bomb—a non-explosive device used for training that can still pose risks.
In response to the discovery, the Wooler Parish Council engaged Brimstone Site Investigations, a company that specializes in dealing with unexploded ordnance, to conduct a thorough examination of the site. The investigation began on January 23 and was expected to last two days; however, officials noted that the extent of the issue was much larger than anticipated.
On the first day of their survey, Brimstone identified an additional 65 practice bombs, each weighing about 10 pounds, along with smoke cartridges. By the end of the second day, the team had recovered another 90 practice bombs and secured them in a safe storage facility.
As reported by the BBC, the Ministry of Defense has mandated a comprehensive survey of the playground site to assess safety. Although these findings are primarily practice bombs, they still contain live charges that necessitate removal by trained specialists. The parish council emphasized the importance of safety, noting that the bombs were discovered with intact fuses and potentially hazardous contents, including detonators and smoke filling.
One spokesperson for Northumberland County Council described the situation as “unexpected.” Mark Mather, a local official in Wooler, mentioned to the BBC that around a third of the park area has been cleared, raising the possibility of more undiscovered bombs at the site.
“It’s quite unsettling to think that children have been playing above hidden bombs,” Mr. Mather remarked. He added that Wooler previously served as a training base for the Home Guard, a volunteer unit crucial in defending against German forces during World War II. Mr. Mather speculated that post-war, ordnance may have simply been buried in unmarked pits.
The Ministry of Defense confirmed that their team had visited the location twice throughout January but did not provide additional details. The Wooler Parish Council expressed hopes that construction efforts could recommence in April once the area is deemed safe.
As of now, comments from Brimstone, the Ministry of Defense, Mr. Mather, and local councils have not yet been received.
