Train services across Birmingham, UK, faced widespread delays and cancellations on Tuesday morning after an unexploded Second World War bomb was discovered near a railway line.
The device, identified as an old mortar, was found during routine works. A specialised Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team immediately established a 100-metre exclusion zone, forcing the closure of nearby tracks while they worked to neutralise the threat.
Disruptions continued well into the afternoon. A spokesperson for West Midlands Police confirmed the resolution of the incident, stating: “The EOD bomb disposal team attended and made the mortar safe. The exclusion zone has been lifted, and the nearby railway line reopened.”
While such discoveries may seem extraordinary, approximately 8,000 unexploded items from the Second World War are found across the UK each year. Although they pose a significant potential hazard to public safety, most are safely disposed of by military experts without incident.
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