Bomb disposal experts have blown up a German World War Two mine which was dragged up by a boat in the Clyde.
The controlled explosion was carried out at Ettrick Bay, near the Isle of Bute, by a bomb disposal team from The Royal Navy’s Northern Diving Group.
The mine, still packed with 350kg of explosives, caused a huge blast, sending water high in to the sky.
The blast was captured on video and shared on the Royal Navy’s Twitter page alongside the caption: “The @RoyalNavy bomb disposal team from Northern Diving Group were in action today at #Ettrick Bay, Isle of #Bute, disposing of a German WW2 mine. The ordnance was trawled in the Firth of #Clyde & still contained 350kg of explosives. That equals a pretty Big Bang!”
We told yesterday how the crack team, who are underwater munitions specialists from HM Naval Base Clyde, at Faslane, was scrambled to attend the find.
Coastguard personnel safely brought the seven people on board back to shore as the mine was secured.
A Royal Navy spokesman said yesterday: “We can confirm that Royal Navy bomb disposal experts from HM Naval Base Clyde’s Northern Diving Group are on their way to Ettrick Bay, Isle of Bute, to meet a vessel with suspected ordnance on board.”
A spokesman for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said: “HM Coastguard has been coordinating the response following a report that a vessel in the Firth of Clyde had found a possible ordnance.
“The Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team were called in to assist.
“Police Scotland were also informed. Troon RNLI lifeboat was sent along with Rothesay Coastguard Rescue Team and seven people on board the vessel were safely brought back to shore.”