Thousands of individuals were evacuated from a northern suburb of Paris on Sunday as a World War II bomb was safely neutralised.
Residents in Colombes, located within a 450-meter radius of the site where the device was discovered last month, were instructed by police to vacate their residences to facilitate a bomb disposal operation.
An initial attempt to extract the detonator from the device was unsuccessful, according to reports from French media, leading authorities to opt for a controlled explosion to eliminate the historic munition on-site.
The operation was successfully executed, and the evacuation order was lifted by early Sunday evening, as confirmed by the Préfet des Hauts-de-Seine in an official statement.
The bomb was located on April 10 during construction activities on Rue des Champarons. Authorities secured the area and covered the device with sand while arrangements were made for its removal.
Almost 800 police officers were assigned to implement the 900-meter-wide evacuation zone, while a second, broader zone extending one kilometer from the bomb’s site permitted residents to stay indoors but limited outdoor activities.
Reception centres were established for individuals forced to abandon their residences, providing assistance to vulnerable individuals in need of medical care.
Authorities reported that bomb disposal specialists executed a controlled detonation at 15:20 on Sunday.
The evacuation order was lifted shortly after 16:00.
WW2 bombs found all across Europe
Undetonated World War II bombs continue to be discovered frequently throughout Europe, 86 years after the conflict broke out.
Bombs located in urban areas, typically during the excavation of foundations for new constructions, can present a heightened danger due to the dense population in the nearby area.
Numerous bombs have been uncovered in recent years in London, resulting in the evacuation of popular tourist destinations and even the temporary shutdown of London City Airport.
Read more: World war I vs. World War II: The ultimate historical comparison
