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Authorities evacuated several thousand residents on Sunday in Colombes, a suburb northwest of Paris, after the discovery of an unexploded World War II bomb prompted a major security operation, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.
According to police, approximately 800 officers were deployed to secure the area while explosives experts attempted to neutralize the device, which was first discovered on April 10. Initial efforts to safely remove the detonator were unsuccessful, leading specialists to prepare a controlled detonation in a two-meter-deep pit.
Officials said the operation was expected to continue for several hours. Residents within a 450-meter radius were instructed to leave their homes early Sunday and were relocated to temporary reception centers. Authorities indicated that evacuations would be lifted and residents allowed to return once the area is declared safe.
Local official Alexandre Brugere said on Thursday that the intervention was “risky,” noting that it required extensive preparation due to the bomb’s age and condition.
Unexploded ordnance from the Second World War continues to be discovered across Europe, particularly in France and Germany, often during construction and infrastructure projects. Such discoveries have previously led to large-scale evacuations and significant transport disruptions, including incidents in Paris in recent years.
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