Bottrop WWII bomb disposal forces A42 closure and evacuates 35 residents

On 10 July 2026 a 250‑kilogram World War II bomb was discovered on Im Werth street in Bottrop’s Welheimer Mark. The city, police and the municipal order service (KOD) established a 250‑metre evacuation radius, forcing 35 residents to leave their homes. The bomb‑disposal unit began work once the area was cleared. To ensure safety, the A42 motorway between the Essen‑Nord interchange and the Bottrop‑Süd exit was closed in both directions for the duration of the operation, causing temporary traffic disruptions. Authorities indicated that the road would reopen once the explosive was safely neutralised and the safety zone lifted.