Bomb scares at three locations in 24-hours

Published on Tuesday 9 December 2008 15:29

Bomb disposal experts were called to three separate munitions scares over a 24-hour period, it emerged today.

A controlled explosion was carried out last night after an old torpedo was found under a pier in Ayrshire.

An Edinburgh school had to be evacuated this morning when a spent mortar shell and a small amount of live ammunition were found on a nearby building site.

And explosives experts were also called upon after a live mine was caught in a fishing net off the East Lothian coast yesterday afternoon.

In the first incident, divers discovered the bomb buried within the structure of Largs Pier.

Explosives experts were called to the scene and the torpedo was picked up by a Navy boat. A controlled explosion was later carried out.

Ferry services to Millport were disrupted during the security operation.

In the second incident, Army bomb disposal experts were called out to Colinton Primary School in Edinburgh this morning after workmen unearthed a spent mortar shell and some small bullets in an area behind the building.

Police cordoned off the area and staff and pupils were taken to the safety of a local church following the incident at 10.15am this morning.

An Army spokeswoman said today: "The Edinburgh-based Army bomb disposal team was called out to Colinton Primary School this morning after contractors found a two-inch illuminating mortar dating back to World War II – which was already spent and therefore of no danger – and a handful of small Army ammunition, some of which was still live.

"The bomb disposal experts removed the ammunition from the scene and will dispose of it in due course."

Finally, an explosion was being carried out this afternoon on an eight-foot long live mine which was trawled up just off Port Seton, near Edinburgh.

The mine is believed to date back to the Second World War.

Forth Coastguard said an ordinance disposal team from Faslane was planning to blow the mine up this afternoon.