WW2 mine found in Looe Harbour detonated at sea

It was discovered in the nets of a fishing vessel on Thursday - causing much of the harbour to close

Author: Cameron HallPublished 13th Jan 2024

An underwater mine that was caught in the nets of a fishing vessel in Looe has been detonated at sea.

The device was first reported to Devon and Cornwall Police on Thursday, when the vessel was moored on the Quay in East Looe.

A cordon was established around the Harbour, with many local businesses closing on Thursday as emergency services dealt with the mine.

Officers from the Royal Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team were later called, and decided to move the device to an exclusion zone off the coast of Plymouth.

The mine was detonated underwater on Friday.

Navy officials say the device - which dated back to World War Two - could have held between 50 and 100 kilos of explosives.

Looe Harbour has now reopened fully, and police have thanked the public and local businesses for their support as they dealt with the incident.