WWII Mortar Shell Sparks Bomb Scare in Swanley
Kent Police were scrambled at 11.04am today after a suspected World War II mortar shell was discovered on Top Dartford Road, Swanley.
Bomb Disposal Team Confirms No Danger
The device, a mortar bomb fired from an artillery weapon, sparked an immediate response. Officers swiftly called in the Ministry of Defence bomb disposal team to assess the suspicious object.
Thankfully, experts declared the shell posed no threat and removed it safely, averting any danger to residents.
Police Cordon Lifted After Quick Clearance
A police cordon was set up between Princes Road and Bower Road, causing alarm among locals. The blockade has since been lifted following the safe disposal.
The incident caused a buzz on social media, with one local quipping, “Not what my husband was expecting to find today.”
There are unconfirmed reports that police visited neighbours and asked some to evacuate, but Kent Police have not confirmed these details.
A Kent Police spokesperson said: “Kent Police was called at 11.04am on Thursday 20 November 2025 to a report of a suspected wartime mortar shell in Top Dartford Road, Swanley. Officers attended the scene alongside a Ministry of Defence bomb disposal team, who determined the item to be of no threat. It has since been safely disposed of and a cordon, which was in place between Princes Road and Bower Road, has been removed.”
