LONDON, May 21 (UPI) -- NATO says it has successfully destroyed two bombs in the North Sea during a mine countermeasures operation.
The Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1 announced the destruction of two bombs that officials say date back to World War II. The British Royal Navy's HMS Brocklesby made the discoveries, the British Ministry of Defense reported.
The mine countermeasure operation, which included ships from England, Denmark and Belgium, is part of an ongoing effort to remove explosive threats from oceans and seas set during previous military conflicts.
"There is a large amount of Second World War explosives in the North Sea and the aim of this operation is to reduce the risk to seafarers, particularly fishermen who run the risk of hauling up explosives in their nets," British Lt. Cmdr. Tom Tredray, HMS Brocklesby commanding officer, said in a statement.
