Bomb Scare: City evacuated after WWII bomb uncovered
Locals were given the marching orders to evacuate their home after the bomb was found during construction work on the Carola Bridge, according to police.
It was found at around 8am on Tuesday and authorities have been quick to snap into action with the area swiftly barricaded off, and the bomb disposal unit being called in.
'Their assessment determined it to be a 250-kilogram British-made World War II bomb,' police confirmed.
'It is equipped with a detonator and must be defused on site.' The WWII bomb found in Dresden prompted a mass evacuation. Credit: X
At least 17,000 panicked people fled the city, funnelling out via the dozens of shuttle buses sent out to the city, with 330 police deployed to monitor the exclusion zone.
Anyone within a 1km radius of the bridge were forced to leave, marking the largest evacuation in the city's history and the fourth bomb discovered at the construction site according to German outlet Kronen Zeitung. The uncovered bomb in Germany. Credit: X
Police confirmed that early on Wednesday morning authorities had cordoned off the evacuation zone.
'Emergency personnel are now beginning to monitor the restricted area,' police said.
'As soon as there are no more people in the area, the defusing work can begin.
'The Dresden police are asking everyone still in the evacuation zone to follow the instructions of the emergency officers.
'Approximately 17,000 people are affected by the evacuation. Traffic in the surrounding area is being diverted by the police. Motorists are asked to steer clear of the area.
'In addition to fire and rescue personnel, around 330 police officers are on duty.'
During WWII, Dresden was bombed in a joint attack by the British and Americans which killed up to 25,000 people.
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