Thousands of Parisians evacuated as WWII bomb detonated

On Sunday, authorities evacuated thousands of residents from a northern Paris suburb after neutralizing a WWII-era bomb. The evacuation order was issued for those within a 450-meter radius of the device’s location, as officials executed a bomb disposal operation. Police directed people to leave their homes by 07:00 local time (05:00 GMT), while preparations continued for the removal of the historical munition.

The initial effort to deactivate the bomb failed, prompting French media to report that it was eventually destroyed in place with a controlled explosion. The operation concluded successfully by Sunday evening, with the evacuation lifted shortly after 16:00. Préfet des Hauts-de-Seine confirmed the safety of the area following the detonation.

Bomb Discovery and Preparations

The device was unearthed on 10 April during construction work on Rue des Champarons. Authorities swiftly secured the site and covered it with sand before initiating the removal process. Alexandre Brugère, a local official, emphasized that the operation posed significant risks, requiring meticulous planning and coordination.

“The authorities told us to close our windows and shutters when we left the house, but we didn’t take anything – we left everything as it was,” said Alida, a resident of Colombes, in an interview with Le Parisien.

Nearly 800 police officers were deployed to manage the 900-meter evacuation zone. A secondary, broader area extending a kilometer from the bomb’s location allowed people to stay indoors but restricted outdoor movement. Emergency alerts were issued to guide residents during the process.

Reception centers were established to assist those displaced, including support for elderly and medical-needy individuals. The controlled detonation took place at 15:20, with experts handling the task. Such incidents highlight the ongoing presence of undetonated WWII bombs across Europe, 86 years after the war ended.

Urban areas, in particular, face heightened risks when such devices are found during construction. Recent years have seen multiple evacuations in London, including temporary closures of London City Airport. In Paris, a 500kg bomb was previously defused near Gare du Nord during bridge work, underscoring the persistent threat of wartime relics in modern cities.