Oranienburg: 500-kilogram WWII bomb successfully defused

A 500-kilogram American World War II bomb was successfully defused on Wednesday evening in the Lehnitz district of Oranienburg, Germany. The explosive device was discovered approximately 6.5 meters underground during a systematic search for unexploded ordnance.

The bomb was equipped with an intact chemical long-term fuse, a feature that makes the Oranienburg region particularly hazardous due to high concentrations of such unexploded weapons. The disposal operation required a 1,000-meter exclusion zone, forcing nearly 4,700 residents to evacuate their homes.

The evacuation and exclusion zone impacted several local institutions, including primary schools, daycare centers, a senior living facility, a community shelter, and parts of the Oder-Havel Canal. Public transportation was also disrupted, with S-Bahn services bypassing the Lehnitz and Borgsdorf stations. The disposal process faced delays as experts had to pause work three times because unauthorized individuals entered the restricted area.