IMAGO / Anadolu Agency
A World War II-era aerial bomb was successfully defused in Neukölln late on Wednesday evening. The bomb was found in the shipping canal between Teupitzer Straße and Treptower Straße. Approximately 5,600 households were evacuated in the surrounding area. The evacuation was completed at 21:45 and the bomb disposal operation began shortly after.
The disposal operation finished at around 23:10, police reported. Experts first removed the bomb’s detonator and then carried out a controlled explosion. The exclusion zone was lifted, and residents were able to return to their homes shortly before midnight.
According to reports, 200 police officers were deployed. They were supported by a large contingent of firefighters, the Red Cross, and the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW). An emergency shelter with 200 beds was set up at the Adolf Reichwein School.
The bomb was discovered around 10:40 during sewer work in the Neukölln shipping canal. The almost 100kg explosive was brought to shore for defusing. A high-pressure jet cutter was used to remove the detonator. According to the police, transporting it to a demolition site would have been too risky.