16,000 Evacuated For UXO Disposal Operation

Frankfurt, Germany Over 16,000 people were evacuated from the area around the European Central Bank headquarters as bomb disposal personnel disposed of a World War II era U.S. bomb. About 350 firefighters, police and Red Cross staff were involved in the operation to move residents.

The device was discovered earlier in the week in the Main River by city fire service personnel conducting a dive exercise in the river. Reportedly, the initial plan had been for a partial detonation to neutralize the bomb, but local experts were concerned that bomb could high order in the process. Therefore, divers moved the bomb, reported as a 250-kilogram (550-pound) US bomb from the position where it was found to a greater depth of 5.5 to 6 meters.

Smaller explosions had been detonated in the water to drive away fish ahead of the main explosion. The underwater disposal shot sent water plume some 30 meters up into the air. The area was given the all clear for residents following the successful operation.