WW2 bombs cause panic at Liverpool skyscraper site (PHOTOS, VIDEO)
A team of bomb disposal experts equipped with an army robot were called to the scene of two unexploded World War II-era bombs in Liverpool, England.
The historic devices were discovered on Monday at a vacant site near Pall Mall, on the banks of the River Mersey.
Builders are currently working in the area to demolish old warehouses in preparation for a multi-million pound skyscraper and retail district called North Point.
We are at a site on Pall Mall in Liverpool following reports of the discovery of a suspected unexploded WWII bomb. https://t.co/mTlRjaztHg
— Merseyside Police (@MerseyPolice) March 14, 2016
Here's the entrance to the site where the bombs were found pic.twitter.com/29TTX6RbrQ
— Joshua Taylor (@taylorjoshua1) March 14, 2016
It appears the workers unearthed the potentially lethal surprise whilst clearing the area at around 1 p.m. local time, alerting authorities who dealt with the danger.
Merseyside Police confirmed the unusual find, saying in a statement: “Bomb disposal officers have assessed two devices discovered at the scene and removed them from the area for further examination.”
The vicinity was evacuated and sealed off for more than an hour, while army bomb disposal units worked to disarm the devices.
Images from the scene show members of the Liverpool fire brigade, Merseyside Police and Royal Logistics Corps surrounding the area as a robot moves in to tackle the devices.
The Royal Logistics Corps discuss their next move, as the bomb disposal robot is moved into position. pic.twitter.com/WdRGhOjfTt
— Alan Weston (@alanweston) March 14, 2016
Here's a video of the scene where the Royal Logistics Corps bomb disposal team are preparing pic.twitter.com/xgx6GpRA7e
— Joshua Taylor (@taylorjoshua1) March 14, 2016
One witness told the Liverpool Echo that one of the bombs was disarmed by a soldier “hitting it as though using a hammer.”
A bomb disposal soldier disarmed the device by hitting it as though using a hammer, according to one eyewitness.
— Joshua Taylor (@taylorjoshua1) March 14, 2016