Dozens of bombs made safe at Downhill beach

These dramatic pictures show Ammunition Technical Officers making safe 35 mortar shells washed up on a beach in an area between Magilligan Point and Balls Point on the afternoon of Thursday, September 15.

During a 48 hour operation the Army team carried out a number of controlled explosions and removed the devices.

The photographs printed here were taken by local photographer Richard Bence who was permitted to film the team’s highly dangerous work.

Richard told the Times: “The team were there over two days dealing with what looked like 60 or 70 bombs.

“They carried out one controlled explosion on the Thursday and a further four on the Friday, the last of which was a very big one.”

Police called in the ATOs to examine the devices which are believed to be from the Second World War.

It’s believed that the storms and high tides caused by the tail end of Hurricane Katia caused the shells to be washed up onto the shore.

Earlier in the week a large red shell measuring around 18 inches in length, was discovered on the shore of Lough Foyle in Bellarena.

Members of the Ulster Gliding Club (UGC), which has an airfield nearby, were braving the windy elements on the beach when they discovered the object and alerted police for fear that it might still be live.

Army bomb experts attended the scene to examine the device.

A spokesman confirmed it was “of a considerable age” and said it was understood to have been a World War Two mortar.

The PSNI has warned members of the public not to touch similar items under any circumstances should they discover them in the area and report them to police on 0845 600 8000.