Thousands of residents were forced to evacuate their homes in a northern suburb of Paris on Sunday as authorities carried out a high-risk operation to neutralize an unexploded World War II bomb discovered during construction work.
The device was found on 10 April on Rue des Champarons in Colombes, prompting immediate security measures. Officials secured the site and covered the bomb with sand while preparing for its removal, warning that the operation would be complex and potentially dangerous.
Residents living within a 450-metre radius were ordered to leave their homes by 07:00 local time, while a wider safety zone extending up to one kilometre required people to remain indoors and avoid outdoor activity. Nearly 800 police officers were deployed to enforce the evacuation and maintain security.
An initial attempt to remove the bomb’s detonator failed, according to French media reports, raising concerns about the risks involved. Authorities ultimately decided to destroy the device where it lay, carrying out a controlled explosion at 15:20.
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“The operation was carried out successfully,” the Préfet des Hauts-de-Seine said in a statement, confirming that the evacuation order was lifted shortly after 16:00.
Local official Alexandre Brugère had earlier warned that the procedure would be “risky” and require a “high level of preparation.”
Residents described the abrupt nature of the evacuation. “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 local, Alida, told Le Parisien.
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Reception centres were set up to accommodate those displaced, including facilities to support vulnerable individuals in need of medical assistance.
Despite the passage of more than eight decades since World War II began, unexploded bombs continue to be discovered across Europe, particularly during construction projects. In densely populated areas, such finds pose serious risks and often necessitate large-scale evacuations.
Similar incidents have occurred in major cities in recent years, including London, where bomb discoveries have led to the evacuation of busy areas and even temporary airport closures. In Paris, a 500kg WWII device was found and safely defused near Gare du Nord last year during railway construction work.
Sunday’s operation in Colombes ended without incident, but it served as a stark reminder of the lingering dangers left behind by past conflicts.
