Unexploded WWII bomb in Wembley. This image taken by British Army photographer Sgt Rupert Frere RLC (Phot) Also: @Rupert_Frere
The British Army has successfully removed a large WWII bomb, believed to have been dropped by the German Luftwaffe, from a building site in Wembley.
Cordons had been removed.
The news was first announced by Brent Metropolitan Police on Twitter:
The WW2 bomb in #Wembley has been removed. Cordons removed.
— Brent MPS (@MPSBrent) May 22, 2015
Army disposal experts had worked through the night to try to make safe and remove the bomb that had been unearthed by builders,
It’s understood it’s being taken to an undisclosed quarry for detonation.
The exclusion zone and security cordon had closed Brent Civic Centre.
Hundreds of residents have been evacuated.
Good news everyone the #Wembleybomb has gone. I’d say that’s 1 British Army – 0 The Germans pic.twitter.com/G9JNogWZqC
— Rupert Frere (@Rupert_Frere) May 22, 2015
Update 11.20 pm 22nd May 2015
The Wembley bomb was taken by the British Army to an undisclosed location for detonation.
They think it's all over, it is now #WembleyWW2Bomb (not my photo) http://t.co/oRwApsqWuL
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Rupert Frere (@Rupert_Frere) May 22, 2015——————–
Wembley - Empire Way remains closed btwn Wembley Pk Drive and High Road. Unexploded WW2 bomb due to be detonated this AM.
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BBC London Travel (@BBCTravelAlert) May 22, 2015Chief Superintendent Mick Gallagher for Brent Command said earlier:
We are working with the disposal experts and partner agencies to keep disruption to local residents and businesses to an absolute minimum, whilst ensuring the safety of everyone in the surrounding area.
Our officers have been keeping those affected informed of any developments and continue to work with Brent Council to identify any vulnerable residents who need any additional assistance.
As soon as the device has been made safe by our colleagues in the Army we will inform everyone that they can return safely to their homes.
We appreciate the patience of those affected and ask them to bear with us while the remainder of this operation is completed.
The incident was very close to Wembley stadium and there had been speculation that if the operation ran into the weekend it could have affected the holding of soccer play-off finals.
Site of unexploded WW2 bomb unearthed at Wembley building site. Image: Sgt Rupert Frere RLC (Phot).
Police were originally called just before 3 pm yesterday to the building site on Empire Way, Wembley to reports of the unexploded device.
The 50 kg device was discovered by builders working at the location.
A 400 m cordon remained in place around the site.
The British Army said:
The air drop World War Two Sprengbombe-Cylindrisch general purpose 50 kg German Bomb was uncovered during construction works in Empire Way Wembley today and is within 200m of Wembley Stadium and just 50m from flats, cranes and towers. It is believed the bomb was dropped over London during Nazi German bombing raids in the early 1940s but unusually did not detonate.
Bomb disposal teams from Northolt and Ashchurch Troops 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Royal Logistic Corps and Sappers from Wimbish based 33 Engineer Regiment Explosive Ordnance Disposal were involved in excavating and stabilising the device so that it can be safely defused.
Royal Engineers built safety structures around the device to limit any explosion and allow the safety cordon which currently stretches more than a thousand metres from the site to be reduced in size.
The Army Captain in charge of the operation explained:
This bomb is a live munition in a potentially dangerous condition so it’s important that people listen to the police and evacuate their homes if asked. We will do all we can to minimise the disruption but ask the public to bear with us – any bomb, even under a controlled explosion could cause significant damage to property and there is a genuine risk to life.
The British Army says: ‘The Army’s bomb disposal teams are permanently on standby to assist the civil powers in instances of this nature and are amongst the very best in the world at what they do.’
WW2 unexploded bomb. Within 200m of Wembley Stadium and just 50m from flats, cranes and towers. Image: Sgt Rupert Frere RLC (Phot).
The Met Police reported:
Work is underway to make the device safe. This work is ongoing.
A number of residential and business addresses have been evacuated as a precaution.
The close proximity of unexploded WWII bomb to Wembley stadium.
Image: Sgt Rupert Frere RLC (Phot) .
As a precaution, a number of residential and business addresses have also been evacuated. At this stage we do not know how long this incident is likely to last however, a rest centre has been set up at Chalk Hill Community Centre for affected residents.
Brent Civic Centre is closed all day on Friday as the council has been advised that bomb disposal experts are planning a controlled explosion during the day. Vital council services will be running on Friday although these may be skeleton services in some cases. Road closures are in place.
The emergency planning team has been liaising w/ @MPSBrent & @BritishArmy at the #WembleyBomb whilst it's made safe http://t.co/0HZ21WTa7a
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ChrisHawkswell, EP07 (@LAS_TacAdvisor) May 22, 2015Brent Council add:
Please continue to check our website or social media accounts for regular service updates or call our emergency number 0208 937 1511, which will have more information available on it from 8am on Friday morning.
Slideshow gallery of images taken by British Army photographer Sgt Rupert Frere RLC (Phot). Also @Rupert_Frere
Check the latest update on the unexploded WW2 device at the Brent Civic centre here: ow.ly/NgrYQ
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Brent Council (@Brent_Council) May 21, 2015for the latest update on the unexploded WW2 bomb at Brent Civic Centre click here: ow.ly/Ngc5g
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Brent Council (@Brent_Council) May 21, 2015A rest centre has been set up at the Chalkhill Community Centre for residents affected by the unexploded WW2 bomb in Wembley
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Brent Council (@Brent_Council) May 21, 2015The unexploded bomb incident inspired the Sun newspaper to splash its front page with the headline ‘Hitler Halts BGT’- ‘BGT’ standing for the television show ‘Britain’s Got Talent.’
Sun’s headline as its angle on the Wembley unexploded bomb incident. Image: Screen grab from Sun website. Click through to source.
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