On 16 October, emergency services responded to a bomb scare at St Paul’s Church in Withington.
The incident caused significant disruption, with a 25 metre cordon put in place around the church, and an explosive ordinance disposal team were called.
Paramedics, police, and fire crews were all spotted on the scene, and buses were diverted along the road.
Police advised people to stay away, yet this was a precautionary measure, and a broader evacuation of the area was not ordered.
In a statement, a GMP spokesperson said: “At around 11.10am this morning (Wednesday 16 October 2024), we were called to reports of a suspicious device on Wilmslow Road in Withington. Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) are making their way to the scene and a 25m cordon has been put in place”.
The scare occurred when a military history enthusiast brought three WWI-era shells to a church coffee morning to show a clergy member who shared his interest in the subject.
The shells had been acquired by the enthusiast’s friend from northern France and had been sitting in his garage for twenty years.
The man had assumed that the shells were safe but upon further inspection at the coffee morning, there were concerns that one still had its fuse attached.
This prompted church volunteers to take the shell to Withington fire station.
Reverend Cate Allison of the church stated, “when volunteers became aware of these items, they acted immediately ensuring that they were taken to Withington Fire Station for expert advice. The fire department contacted the bomb disposal unit to ensure the situation was handled safely”.
She stated that all necessary precautions were taken to ensure the safety of residents, and the church is “grateful for the support of our community and the swift response of the emergency services.”
The device’s owner claimed that had the shell exploded it would have been “very minor”.
Police later confirmed that the shell was “destroyed in a controlled environment”.
