Police race to Oxfordshire town as ‘bomb’ found in Thames

The suspected explosive was pulled out of the water by Dian Powell, 32 and of Barton, today (Tuesday, March 31), while he was magnet fishing with friends in the Abingdon section of the River Thames.

After finding the bomb, Mr Powell called the police who rushed to the scene at around 6pm, closing off a section of Wilsham Road.

As of 8.20pm, the police still have a cordon in place approximately between Wharf Close and Saxton Road with specialists reportedly on their way.

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Mr Powell had been magnet fishing alongside the river from around 2pm.

Having already discovered a double-barrelled shotgun and a gem rifle from the late 19th century, he then pulled out the explosive from the River Thames.

Dian Powell, 32, who found the bomb in Abingdon while magnet fishing (Image: Dian Powell)

“It was an awesome find but it was scary. I just knew if it dries up you never know. It really was quite spooky,” he said.

As it was heavy and potentially live, once Mr Powell had pulled it out from the Thames, he had to call the police.

Even so, he managed to get photos of the potential bomb and some of his friends said they thought it was a 57mm anti-tank round used during the Second World War.

District and county councillor Neil Fawcett was in the neighbourhood at the time, at the Old Anchor Inn.

When he spotted it, he stated: “I’ve just heard a report that Wilsham Road is currently closed due to a potential unexploded bomb that some magnet fishers have found.

Police cordoned off a road in Abingdon after a suspected bomb was pulled from the River Thames (Image: Neil Fawcett)

“Please avoid if you can.”

He then spoke to this paper and said he had seen “loads of blue lights” at around 7pm in Abingdon.

Indeed Hayleigh Dixon said that she saw two cars and one van at the scene.

At 8.15pm Mr Fawcett confirmed the police still had a cordon up and he complimented the force on how it had handled the situation.

The suspected bomb found in the River Thames (Image: Dian Powell)

The Liberal Democrat councillor said: “I am very impressed by the speed of the response by police. I hope the bomb isn’t going to be a big problem.

“They are doing a very professional job keeping local people safe.”

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This isn’t the first time this year that bomb squad have been summoned in Oxfordshire.

An area of Osney Mead was cordoned off after suspected unexploded bombs were found by fishermen on February 22.

Several police cars were pictured at the estate off Botley Road along with a bomb disposal unit.

On that occasion a local fisherman said the items were found in the River Thames off Osney Mead industrial estate.