A COASTGUARD bomb disposal squad has detonated an explosive ordnance device after it was discovered by a vessel in the Firth of Forth.
On Friday at around 7.35pm, HM Coastguard was alerted after a boat found the device near Western Harbour. Police Scotland were later made aware by the coastguard at around 10.30pm.
An Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team were sent out, accompanied by South Queensferry and Fisherrow coastguard rescue teams.
The boat was evacuated as a precaution, and the device was destroyed in a controlled detonation on Saturday at around 4pm.
A spokesperson for HM Coastguard said: “An EOD unit was sent by HM Coastguard to a report of ordnance brought up by a vessel in the Firth of Forth, north of Edinburgh.
“The report was made at about 7.35pm on 27 December.
“The item was safely deposited by the EOD unit on the seabed about two nautical miles from land and successfully detonated on 28 December.
“South Queensferry and Fisherrow Coastguard Rescue Teams and Police Scotland assisted with the response.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 10.30pm on Friday, 27 December, 2024 we received a report that an unexploded ordnance device had been discovered in the Firth of Forth near to Western Harbour.
“The device was discovered after a boat was dredging the water. The boat was evacuated as a precaution.
“HM Coastguard and EOD were contacted.
“An exclusion zone was put in place and a controlled explosion took place about 4pm that day after which the exclusion zone was lifted.”
