Exploded ordnance from World War I neutralized in Dresden
In the heart of Dresden, Germany, approximately 17,000 people were evacuated from large parts of the city centre, including the area around the Carola Bridge and the iconic Frauenkirche, to safely defuse a 250-kilogram British-made bomb discovered during clearance work for a collapsed bridge[1][2][3].
The evacuation zone had a radius of about 1,000 meters around the bomb site. The bomb, equipped with a detonator, was defused on site, and authorities successfully carried out the operation before transporting it to a disposal site northwest of Dresden[1][2]. The Carola Bridge, a key Elbe river crossing, partly collapsed in September 2024, and was scheduled for demolition by October 2025[3][4][5].
Details specific to temporary shelter arrangements for evacuees are not explicitly stated in the sources. However, such evacuations typically involve setting up emergency shelters or relocating residents to nearby safe areas[6].
This operation follows similar World War II bomb evacuations in Germany, such as the June 2025 evacuation of around 20,000 people in Cologne due to multiple unexploded bombs[1][3][4].
In a related development, the police announced the all-clear for the evacuated area, and it was confirmed that two of the other explosive devices found this year no longer had a fuse and could be safely removed[1].
Interestingly, this was the second elaborate defusing operation this year at the Carolabridge site. The previous operation was carried out in January, also on an English-made bomb[1]. During both operations, thousands of people were evacuated from a cordoned-off area around the bomb site[1].
The Saxon State Chancellery, ministries, and shops were within the cordoned-off area, along with parts of the city centre and residents in the area[1]. The English-made bomb was found on Tuesday during clearance work on the demolished Carolabridge[1].
It's worth noting that nothing remains of the concrete structure in Dresden due to the demolition work. The police reported that 192 people were accommodated at the Dresden exhibition center shelter[1].
In conclusion, the successful defusing of the bomb in Dresden marks another significant step in the clearance of unexploded ordnance from World War II. The city continues to work diligently to ensure the safety of its citizens and visitors.
All information is current as of early August 2025[1][3][4][5].
References:
- BBC News
- Deutsche Welle
- The Local
- The Guardian
- The New York Times
- Red Cross
Politics and general news report the evacuation of approximately 17,000 people in Dresden, Germany, as a 250-kilogram British-made bomb was discovered in the city centre. The evacuation zone had a radius of about 1,000 meters around the bomb site, and the operation followed similar World War II bomb evacuations in Germany.
