Latest UXO Discoveries

It’s been another busy few days for UXO discoveries across the UK.

Hampshire Constabulary were called on 14^th March to the discovery of a small item of ‘suspected UXO’ during excavation works at Cumberland Place, Southampton. Nearby homes were evacuated after a police cordon was established, and an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team attended the scene, but the incident was later stood down. No further details have been released.

See: Unexploded ordnance found in Southampton city centre – BBC News

Derbyshire Police were called on 18^th March to reports of an item of suspected unexploded ordnance, reported as an ‘unexploded mortar round’, being found in a field near Ilkeston, Derbyshire. An Army EOD team attended the scene and the device was destroyed in a controlled explosion. The exact nature of the device has yet to be confirmed.

See:

Army called after unexploded bomb found in an Ilkeston field | West Bridgford Wire

Army bomb disposal experts detonate device found in Derbyshire (derbyshiretimes.co.uk)

On 19^th March 2024, officers from Leicestershire Police attended the discovery of two suspected WWII unexploded bombs in an outbuilding off Main Street in Empingham, Rutland. An EOD team attended the scene and confirmed the devices as 1kg German incendiary bombs from WWII. The devices were destroyed in a controlled explosion.

See: Explosive Ordnance Disposal team and police called to report of unexploded Second World War bombs in Main Street, Empingham (lincsonline.co.uk)

Selsey Coastguard was called on 19^th March to the discovery of ‘suspected ordnance’ on Medmerry Beach, near Selsey, West Sussex. An EOD team attended the scene and the devices were destroyed in a controlled explosion. The exact nature of the devices remains unconfirmed, but several items have been confirmed by the Selsey Coastguard as ‘still explosive’.

See: West Sussex: Controlled explosion on suspected ordnance – BBC News