Suspected ordnance detonated on a beach after being located at Torr Quarry

A suspected Second World War S-Mine was found at a business at Torr Quarry Industrial Estate and detonated by the Royal Navy. 

Devon and Cornwall Police officers from the Kingsbridge Neighbourhood Policing Team were called to a business in Torr Quarry Industrial Estate after a report of "a possible explosive device" being found on Sunday, 15 October. 

The Royal Navy Bomb Disposal Squad attended and confirmed the device as "a probable WW2 S-Mine".  

According to Wikipedia, "the German S-mine (Schrapnellmine in German), also known as the 'Bouncing Betty', is the best-known version of a class of mines known as bounding mines. When triggered, these mines launch into the air and then detonate at about waist height.

"The explosion projects a lethal shower of steel balls and steel fragments in all directions. The S-mine was an anti-personnel landmine developed by Germany in the 1930s and used extensively by German forces during World War II. It was designed to be used in open areas to attack unshielded infantry."

credit AdolfGalland on Flickr

A police spokesperson said: "It was safely retrieved and subsequently detonated at a nearby beach. Thanks to the staff at Torr Quarry for alerting us." 

If you find suspected unexploded ordnance, call 999 and do not touch it. If you find it at the beach, which is the most likely place a member of the public would find it, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said: “If you see an ordnance or an object of an unusual size or shape, especially after bad weather or a high tide, it could be an unexploded ordnance.

Please don’t touch it or move it. Call 999 and ask for the Coastguard. They will take the necessary steps with the relevant partner authorities to keep people safe.”