Bomb Alert at Portsmouth Harbour as WWII Mine Discovered – Port Shut for Hours
Portsmouth Port was forced to shut down for over three hours today after a deadly Second World War mine was dredged up near Southsea. The explosive device was found embedded in a barge’s excavator head during harbour upgrades ahead of the Royal Navy’s new £6 billion aircraft carrier arrival.
All Stop at Portsmouth Harbour
The discovery sparked chaos as officials quickly imposed a 500-metre exclusion zone around the site. The busy port was closed to all traffic while the Royal Navy’s Southern Dive Team 2 was called in to assess the threat and make the area safe.
Bomb Disposal Experts Step In
Experts from the Royal Navy’s bomb disposal squad carefully handled the unexploded mine, which had lain undisturbed on the harbour floor since WWII. After a tense operation, they detonated the device safely away from the port to avoid any damage.
Traffic delays snarled transport in and out of the port, causing disruption to businesses and commuters. But just after 9pm, officials announced the mine was declared safe and Portsmouth Harbour was reopened.
The wartime relic is a stark reminder of Portsmouth’s long military history, as the city prepares to welcome the cutting-edge new aircraft carrier to its waters.
