Blast from the past: WWII bomb detonated

IPOH: The World War II bomb found at Sungai Pinji, Tambun, near here had to be detonated twice before it was completely destroyed.

Ipoh OCPD Asst Comm Azisman Alias said the first attempt by the bomb disposal unit at 10am only destroyed a part of the bomb.

“After the smoke had cleared from the site, we noticed it was still intact.

“In the second attempt 50mins later, we successfully destroy the bomb,” ACP Azisman told reporters near the blast site immediately after the operations on Saturday.

No one was injured and nothing had been damaged, he said.

ACP Azisman said the bomb was believed to have been made by the British during the war.

“It could have been dropped during the war to blow up the bridge in Tambun near here,” he said. The remaining pieces of the bomb would be kept at the Tambun police station as a souvenir, he said.

All roads leading into Tambun had been cordoned off by 7am on Saturday, while residents staying within a 500m radius were evacuated to two army camps and the Tambun Mosque.

All returned to normal at 12.30pm after ACP Azisman had given the green light.

Old bomb to be detonated Saturday

IPOH: Police will detonate the 450kg World War II bomb found at Sungai Pinji, Tambun, near here at 11am tomorrow.

Ipoh OCPD Asst Comm Azisman Alias said a team of bomb experts from Bukit Aman would detonate the bomb at the site where it was found.

“As a precaution, people staying within a 500m radius of the site will have to leave their homes by 8.30am,” he said yesterday, adding that some 5,000 people would be affected by the exercise.

Live explosive: It is too risky to move the bomb elsewhere for detonation.

Speaking at a news conference here, ACP Azisman said residents from Taman Tambun, Taman Tambun Jaya, Kampung Baru Tambun and Kampung Malay Reserve would be affected.

“They just need to lock up their houses and leave until it is safe for them to return,” he said, adding that the entire operation was expected to be completed by 2pm.

The residents could wait at two army camps and the Tambun Mosque at Jalan Tambun.

“I will make an announcement to inform the people when it is safe for them to return,” he said, adding that all roads leading to the site would be closed from 7am.

Shielding function: Ipoh City Council workers preparing sandbags at Sungai Pinji, Tambun where the World War II bomb will be detonated.

For those without transport to go to the shelters, ACP Azisman said transport would be provided.

“Announcement on the pick-up points will be made at the affected housing schemes,” he added.

To a question, ACP Azisman said police had no choice but to cordon off the area for detonation as it was too risky to remove the bomb and detonate it elsewhere.

“The bomb is considered active,” he said, warning those who refused to leave their houses tomorrow would be arrested.