Intemperate Trump brings chaos and confusion to Iran talks
Trump's chaotic approach raises doubts in Iran talks after Hormuz closure.
The Guardian World1 min read
Thousands of Parisians evacuated as WW2 bomb detonated
TL;DR
Thousands of Parisians were evacuated from Colombes as a World War Two bomb was safely detonated. The controlled explosion occurred after an initial attempt to remove the detonator failed.
Key points
- Thousands evacuated from a northern suburb of Paris
- World War Two bomb found during construction work
- Evacuation radius was 450m around the bomb
- Initial attempt to remove the detonator failed
- Controlled explosion carried out successfully
Thousands of people were evacuated from a northern suburb of Paris while a World War Two bomb was rendered safe on Sunday.
Residents in Colombes living within a 450m radius of where the device was found last month were told by police to leave their homes by 07:00 local time (05:00 GMT), as authorities carried out a bomb disposal operation.
An inital attempt to remove the device's detonator failed, French media reports, prompting authorities to destroy the historic munition in situ with a controlled explosion.
The operation was "carried out successfully" and the evacutation order was lifted by early on Sunday evening, the Préfet des Hauts-de-Seine confirmed in a statement.
The bomb was discovered on 10 April during construction work on Rue des Champarons. Authorities secured the site and covered the device with sand while preparations were made for its removal.
Ahead of the operation, local official Alexandre Brugère said it would be "risky" and required a "high level of preparation".
Nearly 800 police officers were deployed to enforce the 900m-wide evacuation zone, while a second, wider zone extending a kilometre from the bomb's location allowed residents to remain indoors but restricted outdoor activity.
Locals received emergency alerts instructing them to leave and were told they would not be allowed to return until the operation had been completed.
"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," one resident, Alida, told newspaper Le Parisien.
Reception centres were set up for those forced to leave their homes, including support for vulnerable residents requiring medical assistance.
Police said bomb disposal experts conducted the controlled detonation at 15:20 on Sunday. The evacuation order was lifted shortly after 16:00.
Undetonated WW2 bombs are still found regularly across Europe, 86 years since the war began.
Those uncovered in urban centres - usually when digging foundations for new buildings - can pose a greater risk due to a built-up nearby population.
Dozens of bombs have been found in recent years across London, leading to evacuations of tourist hotspots and even the temporary closure of London City Airport.
Last year, a device weighing 500kg was found and diffused near Gare du Nord in Paris, where rail workers were putting up a new bridge over railway lines.
Q&A
What caused the evacuation of thousands in Colombes, Paris?
The evacuation was caused by the discovery of a World War Two bomb that needed to be safely detonated.
How far was the evacuation radius around the bomb in Colombes?
Residents within a 450m radius of the bomb's location were evacuated.
When was the World War Two bomb discovered in Colombes?
The bomb was discovered on April 10 during construction work on Rue des Champarons.
