Police have stood down after reports of a suspected wartime bomb washing up on Sheerness beach turned out to be a false alarm.
Bomb Disposal Team Rushed to Scene
The drama kicked off yesterday morning (October 10) when officers were called to Sheerness beach on Sheppey near the swimming pool steps, following reports of a suspected bomb.
A bomb disposal unit from the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and the Coastguard quickly joined the search. The beach was cordoned off as investigations got underway after the suspicious item was spotted shortly before 10.50am.
Tide Foils Explosive Threat
However, the search was abruptly called off when the incoming tide swallowed the suspected device before it could be safely dealt with.
Emergency services returned in the evening, scouring the beach with flashlights, but were unable to locate anything dangerous.
False Alarm Confirmed
Today (October 11), police confirmed the item was not wartime ordnance and posed no threat to the public. Officers have now stood down completely.
“I had seen them earlier during the daytime while I was fishing with my friends at Neptune Jetty,” said Bunny, a local fisherman.
“They were searching for something, however, the tide came in over the object. So they opened the cordon and left.”
“We go metal detecting down there and find disposed laughing gas bottles all the time that look like mortars.”
The MOD has been contacted for comment.
