A Royal Navy bomb team rushed to a school in Cornwall over concerns about a chemical. Police and military bomb teams were called to the scene of a suspected hazardous chemical issue at Redruth School.
A witness reported hearing a loud 'bang', which could be heard from miles away. They said: "Do you know anything about the loud 'bang' in Redruth? Apparently the Royal Navy bomb squad and police in Redruth school field… some people have heard it from Barncoose area".
A spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police has told CornwallLive there was a chemical which was believed to be hazardous at the school site. They said: "Police were notified at around 5.10pm on Wednesday 15 May following reports of a chemical believed to be potentially hazardous located on the Redruth School site.
"The Royal Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal team attended and neutralized the substance nearby."
CornwallLive has contacted the Royal Navy EOD team and Redruth school for comment. See below for updates as we get them.
Key Events
Crystallised acid detonated
A bottle of crystallised acid has been blown up after being found at a secondary school in Cornwall. Royal Navy bomb disposal units were called to Redruth School after a caretaker found an unknown suspect substance on site on Wednesday evening, May 15.
Redruth School statement in full
We wanted to let you know that Redruth School was visited by Devon and Cornwall Police last night in response to the location of a potentially hazardous substance. This incident was not of a threatening nature.The substance was quickly neutralised, and therefore the school site is safe and fully operational. Thank you for the fast response and action taken by our services.
'School site safe' says headteacher
Redruth School headteacher Mr Bonds said the school had been visited by Devon and Conrwall Police following the discovery of a 'potentially hazardous' substance. The substance was made safe, he added in a statement, and the site is safe and 'fully operation'.
'Loud bang'
An eyewitness told CornwallLive a 'loud bang' could be heard across Redruth. They said:
Do you know anything about the loud “bang” in Redruth? Apparently the Royal Navy bomb squad and police in Redruth school field… some people have heard it from barncoose area
Royal Navy has been contacted
CornwallLive has contacted Royal Navy EOD teams for further information.
Join our new WhatsApp community
⚠️ Want the latest Cornwall breaking news and top stories first? Click here to join CornwallLive on WhatsApp and we'll send breaking news and top stories directly to your phone. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Royal Navy bomb team called to Cornish school
A spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police has told CornwallLive a suspected hazardous chemical spill at Redruth school. They said:
Police were notified at around 5.10pm on Wednesday 15 May following reports of a chemical believed to be potentially hazardous located on the Redruth School site.
The Royal Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal team attended and neutralized the substance nearby.
