Mortar Bomb event in Shropshire, Shrewsbury area, United Kingdom on Mon 5th September 2022

Officers at West Mercia Police said this afternoon that they were "currently dealing with a suspected unexploded ordnance on Copthorne Road, Shrewsbury". A 100m safety cordon has been put in place around the old barracks and people have been asked to please avoid the area. Police said Explosive Ordnance Disposal officers have been contacted. It is the fourth time bomb disposal experts have been called to the Copthorne Keep development off Copthorne Road where new homes are being built on the former Copthorne Barracks, the former home of the Army's Western Division headquarters. Police and bomb disposals units were called out on July 13 and July 14 to carry out controlled explosions on unexploded devices found during construction work. The barracks were constructed in the 19th century and sold by the Ministry of Defence in 2018, with planning permission later received by Bellway Homes to build 220 houses. Last month Bellway said it had taken on a specialist company to see whether any more unexploded bombs could remain at the housing development. Spokesperson, Paul Lawler said: "Following the discovery of unexploded mortars on the former Copthorne Barracks site, a military team was called to safely dispose of the devices. The safety of our residents, staff, contractors and the wider community remains our priority. "Bellway has engaged a specialist company to assess whether any further devices could be present on the development. Searches have taken place in the construction and all public areas at Copthorne Keep. This company will remains on site while groundworks on the remaining plots are completed and will carry out thorough checks on each.