A POWERFUL Second World War mine accidentally pulled off the seabed by a fisherman in Essex has been exploded today by Royal Navy experts.
Russell Claydon
A POWERFUL Second World War mine accidentally pulled off the seabed by a fisherman in Essex has been exploded today by Royal Navy experts.
Marine police cordoned off a one mile area surrounding the parachute mine, which was discovered at St Peter's Flats near Bradwell yesterday afternoon.
The device was blown up at 6.50am today.
A fisherman had alerted coastguards to his terrifying catch after he caught the mine in his nets at 2.20pm yesterday.
The device was immediately put back down on the seabed and its location marked while Royal Navy officers were despatched from Portsmouth to deal with it.
A spokeswoman from Thames Coastguard said Essex Marine Police and the Ministry of Defence co-ordinated the operation and it was kept secret from the media and public to minimise the amount of boats sailing down to the area to get a look.
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