WWII Bombs in Cologne Successfully Defused, Thousands Return Home

The defusal of three WWII-era bombs in Cologne's city center has been completed. The 20,000 evacuated residents can now return home.

Roads and bridges are gradually reopening. Mayor Reker thanked all involved for executing "the largest evacuation operation in Cologne since 1945 so professionally."

The bombs—two American 2000-pounders and one 1000-pounder—were discovered on Monday. Evacuation began at 08:00 this morning, affecting schools, businesses, a hospital, the central station, and dozens of hotels. The Hohenzollern Bridge, Germany's busiest railway bridge, was also closed, halting train traffic.

Authorities expected the defusal to take over an hour and a half, but experts completed it in just one hour. WWII bomb disposals remain common in Germany, especially in heavily bombed cities like Cologne.