Expert claims bomb location concerns 'silenced'

Bomb disposal expert Ben Remfrey said he had "compelling details" about unexploded explosives in a field on Route Isabelle.

A bomb disposal expert has accused officials of ignoring him over concerns about explosives near a Guernsey housing development.

On Friday, Guernsey Police said there was no evidence of unexploded World War Two bombs believed to have been dropped on a field beside Route Isabelle.

Former soldier Ben Remfrey, who had raised the issue, said police and the States of Guernsey had "tried to silence" his concerns and "factual evidence" about the private land near the Wellington Close housing development.

A police and States spokesperson said they would be reviewing the situation regularly, and they "continue to welcome Mr Remfrey’s comments on our statement".

'Gambling with lives'

Mr Remfrey, who has been training the Ukrainian military to deal with explosives during its conflict with Russia, claimed he had "compelling details" of three bombs at the site.

He said a survey of the land done by the States in 2019 used shallow handheld electromagnetic equipment, which he claimed would not find "buried bombs".

Mr Remfrey added he had evidence dating back to 1941 about the bombs he claimed the police and States would not allow him to post on their own social media posts.

On Facebook, he accused the authorities of being "willing to gamble with peoples lives".

"Guernsey Police and States of Guernsey Home Affairs Committee tried to silence my valid concerns and factual evidence, and compelling details, of the three bombs in Route Isabelle," Mr Remfrey said.

Authorities 'welcome comments'

A Guernsey Police and the States of Guernsey spokesperson said the authorities would keep reviewing the matter and would welcome Mr Remfrey to a meeting to discuss his concerns.

They said they were aware of historical records about bombs being dropped in the area.

"We have been and continue to welcome Mr Remfrey’s comments on our statement," the spokesperson said.

"While he hasn’t been able to comment with images, that is because of a Facebook setting, not because of any action taken by Guernsey Police.

"We have however left links to his personal page in our comments so members of the public can see the images he is referring to."