Latest news with #ExplosiveOrdnanceDisposal
ITV News
a day ago
- ITV News
Searches continue to find 'potentially viable' hand grenades found in Worcestershire canal
Searches to safely locate five potentially viable hand grenades found in a canal in Worcestershire have continued today. Police were alerted, at around 6pm on Friday, June 20, that seven suspected hand grenades had been discovered by a man magnet fishing in the canal on Lea End Lane in Hopwood. Two were left on the bank, but police say it appears the man left the area with a number of other devices. Chief Superintendent Damian Pettit said: 'Extensive searches and CCTV enquiries are being carried out so that we can locate these suspected hand grenades and make them safe. 'Our priority is the safety of our communities, and it is vital the person who may have these devices does not move them and contacts the police immediately.' 'I am appealing to both the man directly and anyone who may have information that would help identify him, to contact us. It is imperative that these devices are found and the potential threat they could pose to the public is removed. 'My priority is to avoid harm to that person or anyone who may come within proximity to the grenades knowingly or unknowingly. Please do not fear any consequences of contacting the police' The devices on the bank were safely detonated by Explosive Ordnance Disposal. The initial description police have of the man is that he is around 50 years old with grey hair. At the time of the discovery he was wearing green trousers. He may be a frequent magnet fisher in the area and we ask anyone who may know of people in this community to contact police as soon as possible.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Yahoo
Mike Atkinson, bomb-disposal officer who was targeted by the IRA after defusing a powerful device
Major Mike Atkinson, who has died aged 67, was a bomb-disposal officer who dealt with more than 1,000 explosive-related incidents in a career which saw him defuse bombs in Northern Ireland, as well as reportedly the largest bomb to date in Germany, as a result of which he was targeted for assassination by the IRA. It also saw him parade naked for Margaret Thatcher, as well as becoming an acknowledged authority on military medals and the designer of the British Iraq war medal in 2003. Atkinson was an expert on Napoleon Bonaparte and possessed one of his personal medals. Asked what he was thinking as he attempted to defuse a bomb – which might at any millisecond atomise him – he replied that he simply thought of it as a series of small problems to address and solve, one after the other. Michael Neil Atkinson, always known as Mick, was born on September 14 1957 in the British Military Hospital Gibraltar into an Army family. His father, Maurice, was a sergeant-major and his mother, Sylvia, who was born in Madras, had been in the Women's Royal Army Corps. Atkinson had a peripatetic childhood, with his father's postings to West Germany, Hong Kong, Singapore and back home in the UK. In 1974 he enlisted in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, Army Apprentices College, Chepstow, graduating in 1976 as an ammunition technician responsible for maintaining the safe use, storage and disposal of ammunition and explosives. He completed two gruelling tours of bomb-disposal duties (Explosive Ordnance Disposal, or EOD) in Northern Ireland in 1979 and 1984. In his first tour he worked in Belfast, where the tempo of operations was intense. On a single day, July 4 1979, he blew up six suspect vehicles using a remote-controlled robot nicknamed the 'wheelbarrow' – resulting in the eventual loss of the robot. Atkinson's second tour was based in Armagh, including the 'Bandit Country' of South Armagh, where he defused a number of large IRA improvised explosive devices, or IEDs – including a 300lb car bomb, and a 600lb landmine deliberately planted to kill the EOD team. From the end of 1982 until the middle of 1986 Atkinson was based in West Germany with the British Army of the Rhine, then 55,000-strong. With a great deal of live-firing training, the demands upon ammunition technical staff were exacting. On a subsequent tour in Germany, in May 1990, Atkinson was responsible for defusing the most powerful IRA bomb discovered in Germany, at Langenhagen Barracks in Hanover, consisting of more than 100lb of Semtex high explosive. During the subsequent court proceedings his personal details were disclosed, and this was to have serious consequences for Atkinson and his family. Some time later, back in the UK, his wife saw two men in their garden; they were later identified as IRA terrorists on a reconnaissance mission with the intention of assassinating him. He and his family were immediately relocated. In 1986 Atkinson completed a short tour in the Falkland Islands, where he was kept busy with the explosive and ammunition left-overs, principally Argentinian, from the 1982 conflict. On one occasion, on what was officially known as a Counter Improvised Nuclear Device Emergency Response (CINDER) demonstration, Atkinson, thanks to a tear in his protective clothing, had to complete the full decontamination drills – which included him having to shower naked in front of Mrs Thatcher. In June 1992, after a six-month posting to Belsize, Atkinson, by then a Warrant Officer (Class 1), was commissioned as an Ammunition Technical Officer. In 2000 he resigned his commission and accepted the offer of a post as a Retired Officer and deputy in charge of the Army Medal Office in Droitwich. With his interest and expertise in medals and his usual enthusiasm he was well-suited for the job as it entered possibly the busiest time in the history of the office. There, he was described as an enthusiastic perfectionist with a deep knowledge and passion for medals. He designed the 2003 Iraq War medal which features on the reverse an image of Lamassu, an ancient Assyrian deity with the head of a man and the body of a bull, above the word 'IRAQ'. He said the idea came to him while he was lying in his bath. Atkinson was an expert on Napoleon and regularly lectured on the man, his battles and his leadership. The subject allowed him to combine two of his great enthusiasms, the studies of history and of medals. Atkinson bought what he believed was a medal which had once belonged to the Emperor and made it his mission to prove its provenance – in which he succeeded. His research also included the Royal Flying Corps and German First World War medals. In 2005 he updated the Queen's Royal Medals Collection. He was a member of the Orders and Medals Research Society and the Birmingham Medals Society. He also regularly briefed new bomb disposal officers and lectured at the Royal Military College of Science at Shrivenham in Oxfordshire. Atkinson was a modest and generous person who for many years acted as a carer and friend for a soldier injured by a bomb in Oman in the early 1970s. He was always fit – he ran for the Army, was a keen walker and took part in the demanding Nijmegen Marches, which claim to be the world's largest multi-day walking event. Mike Atkinson is survived by his wife Christine and their son. Mike Atkinson, born September 14 1957, died March 31 2025 Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Western Telegraph
12-06-2025
- Western Telegraph
Bomb disposal team called to Llanelli after device found
Specialist officers from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit attended the scene on June 23, following a warrant executed under The Explosive Substances Act. Police enforced a 100-metre safety cordon, closing several roads including Trinity Terrace, Trinity Road, Copperworks Road, New Dock Road, and Marged Street, as a precaution while the device was investigated. A 57-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of offences under The Explosive Substances Act and remains in police custody. The device found at the address was made safe, and police have confirmed there is no wider threat to the public. Residents living within the cordon were asked to leave their homes while the search was carried out. A rest centre was set up at Llanelli Leisure Centre to support those affected by the disruption. Police officers contacted residents directly to keep them informed and to provide assistance. Dyfed-Powys Police provided regular updates throughout the evening. In a statement, the force said: "Dyfed-Powys Police is carrying out a warrant at New Dock Road, Llanelli. "A 100m cordon is currently in place for public safety. "EOD (explosive ordinance disposal) is on their way to the scene. "Please follow the direction of officers at the scene for your safety." At 9.50pm, police confirmed that the EOD officers had concluded their searches and the device had been made safe. Residents who had been asked to leave their properties were told they could return home, and all roads were reopened. Chief Inspector Dominic Jones said: "I would like to thank the whole community for their support and patience while we dealt with this incident. "Local people will see more police in the area over the coming days as enquiries continue." Police officers are expected to remain at the location overnight as investigations continue. The public are advised to expect an increased police presence in the area in the coming days. Members of the public were urged to avoid the area during the incident and to stay informed via official police channels. Further updates are expected as enquiries progress. No injuries have been reported in connection with the incident. The police investigation is ongoing.
South Wales Guardian
12-06-2025
- South Wales Guardian
Bomb disposal team called to Llanelli after device found
Specialist officers from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit attended the scene on June 23, following a warrant executed under The Explosive Substances Act. Police enforced a 100-metre safety cordon, closing several roads including Trinity Terrace, Trinity Road, Copperworks Road, New Dock Road, and Marged Street, as a precaution while the device was investigated. A 57-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of offences under The Explosive Substances Act and remains in police custody. The device found at the address was made safe, and police have confirmed there is no wider threat to the public. Residents living within the cordon were asked to leave their homes while the search was carried out. A rest centre was set up at Llanelli Leisure Centre to support those affected by the disruption. Police officers contacted residents directly to keep them informed and to provide assistance. Dyfed-Powys Police provided regular updates throughout the evening. In a statement, the force said: "Dyfed-Powys Police is carrying out a warrant at New Dock Road, Llanelli. "A 100m cordon is currently in place for public safety. "EOD (explosive ordinance disposal) is on their way to the scene. "Please follow the direction of officers at the scene for your safety." At 9.50pm, police confirmed that the EOD officers had concluded their searches and the device had been made safe. Residents who had been asked to leave their properties were told they could return home, and all roads were reopened. Chief Inspector Dominic Jones said: "I would like to thank the whole community for their support and patience while we dealt with this incident. "Local people will see more police in the area over the coming days as enquiries continue." Police officers are expected to remain at the location overnight as investigations continue. The public are advised to expect an increased police presence in the area in the coming days. Members of the public were urged to avoid the area during the incident and to stay informed via official police channels. Further updates are expected as enquiries progress. No injuries have been reported in connection with the incident. The police investigation is ongoing.
ITV News
11-06-2025
- ITV News
Explosive disposal team called to Llanelli
Several roads were closed tonight (Wednesday, June 11) after Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) officers were called to New Dock Road, Llanelli. Dyfed-Powys Police have confirmed that a device was found during the team's searches and has now been made safe and that they believe there is no longer any wider threat to the public. The force confirmed the device was found during the execution of a planned search warrant under The Explosive Substances Act. A 100m cordon was previously in place around the area for public safety. One man, aged 57, remains in police custody. Chief Inspector, Dominic Jones, said: "I would like to thank the whole community for their support and patience while we dealt with this incident. Local people will see more police in the area over the coming days as enquiries continue."
