Bomb squad called to Shrewsbury River Severn object find
Army explosives experts were called in after a suspected bomb was found by teams searching the River Severn in Shrewsbury.
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Army explosives experts were called in after a suspected bomb was found by teams searching the River Severn in Shrewsbury.
The metal object, shaped like a torpedo and measuring a couple of feet in length, was found by specialist underwater teams from Avon and Somerset Police on Tuesday while scouring the river for missing Shrewsbury man Simon Rothwell. But instead they found the suspected bomb.
Yesterday the area between the Castle Walk footbridge and Sydney Avenue in Castlefields was cordoned off and a team of eight trained explosive experts from the Royal Engineers Bomb Disposal Unit were drafted in.
The suspected bomb was winched out of the water yesterday afternoon.
But after examining the object, the experts confirmed it was not a bomb but was in fact some kind of lead weight.
Police spokesman Richard Ewels said: “The divers on Tuesday came across an object in the middle of the river – close to the weir – and it appeared to be a suspicious object which is why the Royal Engineers Bomb Disposal Unit was called to investigate.
“It has since been recovered and they are satisfied that it is not an explosive device and it appears to be some kind of lead weight possibly used for dredging purposes but completely harmless.”
Sergeant Andy Jackson, who was involved in the operation for West Mercia Police, said: “Another team came down to secure it and ensure that it is safe.
“It looks to me like it could be a tool the Environment Agency use to survey the river. It is not dangerous but when it was found underwater you can see why it looked suspicious.”
Police confirmed the investigation into the 36-year-old’s disappearance was ongoing after the two-day search of the river. Mr Rothwell, of Monkmoor, was last seen on February 3.