Thousands of people in a Paris suburb were evacuated to allow authorities to safely remove a World War II-era bomb discovered last month. Officials chose to destroy the bomb by controlled detonation.
On 19 Apr 2026 GMT+7, thousands of residents in Colombes, a northern suburb of Paris, France, were evacuated to enable authorities to safely detonate and destroy a World War II bomb.
The bomb was unearthed in March. At 07:00 on Sunday (19 Apr), residents within a 450-meter radius of the bomb site were ordered by police to leave their homes as the disposal operation began.
French media reported that initial attempts to defuse the bomb failed, prompting authorities to opt for a controlled detonation of the device. The operation was successful, and evacuation orders were lifted Sunday evening.
The bomb was discovered on 10 April during construction work on des Champarons street. Authorities cordoned off the area and covered the bomb with sand while preparing to move it.
Before the operation, local official Alexander Brugger stated the mission was "risky" and required "high-level preparedness." Nearly 800 police officers were deployed to secure a 900-meter evacuation zone, with a secondary zone extending 1 kilometer from the bomb where residents could remain indoors but outdoor activities were banned.
Additionally, a reception center was set up for displaced residents, including support for vulnerable individuals needing medical assistance.
Police confirmed bomb disposal experts carried out the controlled detonation at 15:20 on Sunday, and evacuation orders were lifted shortly after 16:00.
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Source:bbc