Bomb disposal experts are preparing to carry out a controlled explosion after finding “a number of ageing detonators” beside a motorway.
The A1 at Catterick in North Yorkshire has been closed since this morning after a member of Army staff reported hearing an explosion in the early hours.
The detonators were found during a search but police said the devices were not the cause.
A “credible source” at Marne Barracks reported hearing the explosion at 3am.
Police have said they cannot rule out that it occurred “within the boundary of the barracks”.
However, no one in nearby Catterick village heard anything unusual and no damage or injuries were reported.
Catterick is home to the Army’s Northern Super Garrison, covering 20,000 acres of training land.
Every infantry soldier undergoes phase one and two training at the sprawling site.
A police statement said: “With the assistance of the military, officers have recovered a number of ageing detonators from the side of the A1 adjacent to Marne Barracks.
“These detonators are being removed by the army’s bomb disposal team to a safe area where a controlled explosion will take place.
“Residents should not be alarmed should they hear an explosion in the Catterick area within the next hour.”
“Please note these are not the cause of the original explosion which remains unexplained, but were found during the searches today.”
Six miles of motorway are affected between Junction 51 at Leeming Bar and Junction 56 at Barton.
Both slip roads to Catterick are shut and diversions have been in place since this morning.
Some drivers say it has taken them up to four hours to complete journeys which normally take one hour.
The road will reopen “when it is safe to do so”, said police.
Source Article from https://uk.news.yahoo.com/explosion-motorway-closed-blast-reports-093008485.html
Detonators Discovered In A1 Explosion Search
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