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WWII Bombs Defused in Cologne, 20,000 Residents Return After Evacuation

Explosive ordnance teams neutralized three US-made bombs unearthed in Deutz during building works, allowing a 1,000-metre safety cordon to be lifted.

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Overview

  • The devices were discovered on June 2 beneath the Rhine’s right bank near Deutz during shipyard construction.
  • Authorities evacuated about 20,000 people and sealed off a 1,000-metre zone encompassing schools, hotels, a hospital and the city hall.
  • Two shelters were established in sports halls and churches while three bridges were closed and rail traffic was rerouted.
  • Bomb disposal experts completed the defusal by Wednesday morning, enabling homes, businesses and cultural venues to reopen.
  • The operation underscores Cologne’s wartime legacy, as experts estimate 20% of the 1.5 million bombs dropped on the city in WWII remain intact underground.