Mine Sinks Fishing Boat; 5 Aboard Saved
LONDON — A World War II mine caught in the nets of a Scottish fishing boat exploded Friday, sinking the vessel, but five men on board escaped without injuries, a Royal Navy spokesman said.
The three-man crew of the Ha’burn netted the mine off the Isle of Arran on the West coast of Scotland and a naval bomb disposal team was called in.
Two naval divers fixed an explosive charge to the mine, which was towed to a safe distance from land for a controlled explosion. But as the fishing boat sailed away with the five men on board the charge blew up prematurely.
The spokesman said shrapnel apparently hit the boat’s hull and it later sank. The men were rescued by a lifeboat.
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