World War II Bomb Defused in Dresden: Fuse Detonated On-Site - Dresden's WWII bomb safely neutralised after mass evacuation of 18,000
A World War II bomb found near Dresden's collapsed Carolabrücke bridge was safely neutralised on Monday. The operation required a controlled destruction of its detonator after experts deemed manual defusing too risky. Over 18,000 residents were evacuated as a precaution during the two-hour procedure.
The unexploded 250-kilogram bomb was uncovered during a routine munitions survey. Its single detonator was severely damaged, ruling out traditional defusing methods. Instead, the bomb disposal team used a high-pressure water jet cutter to sever the detonator along with the bomb's base.
Had this technique failed, authorities would have been forced to detonate the device in place. The operation left only a small fragment of the detonator intact. Police had earlier established a 1,000-metre exclusion zone, clearing thousands from their homes. Germany has dealt with thousands of similar discoveries in recent years. Between 2021 and 2026, around 2,500 to 3,000 unexploded World War II bombs were defused nationwide. Berlin alone accounted for over 500, while major cities like Cologne and Munich also faced large-scale evacuations for similar operations.
The successful neutralisation of the bomb allowed evacuated residents to return home safely. Dresden's operation adds to Germany's ongoing efforts to clear wartime ordnance, with thousands of devices still uncovered each year. Authorities continue to rely on controlled demolitions when manual defusing proves impossible.
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