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Andy Torbet: How to defuse a WW2 bomb

Following the recent discovery of a World War Two bomb near Wembley Stadium the adventurer and former bomb disposal officer Andy Torbet talks about the process of defusing such an explosive. He says that it doesn’t involve cutting ‘red’ or ‘blue’ wires with a pair of pliers, and that the “greatest armour on earth” won’t protect someone if the device is detonated. It is also necessary to straddle a bomb of that size in order to defuse it. Andy reveals that the cartoon image of someone wearing a stethoscope is however true, as bombs from that period are often clockwork and this particular implement would enable a bomb disposal officer to hear whether the device is ticking or not.

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1 minute

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