Explosion carried out at sea after boat dredges up a mystery device

The Coastguard has detonated an explosive after the device was fished out of the sea near Edinburgh, Scotland.

The alarm was raised after a boat dredged up a mystery item in the Firth of Forth north of Edinburgh.

Its crew alerted the HM Coastguard at about 7.35pm on Friday following the discovery of the device near Western Harbour, Leith.

Instead of the usual debris found in the sea, it was confirmed to be an unexploded ordnance device.

As a precaution, the boat was evacuated, Police Scotland said.

An Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team was sent out to investigate along with the South Queensferry and Fisherrow coastguard rescue teams.

Eventually, the device was destroyed in a controlled detonation yesterday at about 4pm after an exclusion zone was put in place.

A spokesperson for HM Coastguard said: ‘An EOD unit was sent by HM Coastguard to a report of ordnance brought up by a vessel in the Firth of Forth, north of Edinburgh.

‘The report was made at about 7.35pm on 27 December.

‘The item was safely deposited by the EOD unit on the seabed about two nautical miles from land and successfully detonated on 28 December.

‘South Queensferry and Fisherrow Coastguard Rescue Teams and Police Scotland assisted with the response.’

Experts estimate there could be as much as 1.3 million tonnes of wartime munitions lying in the seabed in the North Sea.

This can be a risk for energy and offshore wind farm building when trying to lay cables and rig foundations.

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