Leipzig. A live 250-pound bomb was found during construction work on the new “Hornbach” hardware store at the old trade fair center in Leipzig on Wednesday morning.
As a police spokeswoman said, the bomb was found shortly after 10 a.m. during earth lifting work. “The historical bomb is about a meter long,” said the spokeswoman. The explosive ordnance disposal service was then requested. The police cordoned off the area around it.
The city of Leipzig set up a restricted area of 800 meters around the site. The fire brigade, rescue service and civil protection evacuated around 3,500 people from houses and shops until late in the evening.
At around 11:45 p.m., the defusing could start after a long wait. About three quarters of an hour later at around 0.30 a.m. on Thursday the all-clear was given: the bomb was successfully defused and then removed. The lockdown has been lifted. Residents were able to return to their homes and traffic on all roads was released again.
Live ticker for bomb disposal in Leipzig:
1.40 a.m.: Ticker end
With that we end our ticker on defusing the World War II bomb in the south of Leipzig. We wish you a quiet night!
1.35 a.m .: Residents return to apartments
Since the lockdown was lifted, numerous residents have returned to their homes. Those affected who are bedridden are also brought back by ambulance. This will take some time.
1:23 a.m .: Fire brigade dissatisfied with evacuation
In a concluding statement, fire brigade spokesman Torsten Kolbe was satisfied with the defusing of the bomb overall, but there were difficulties with the evacuation, which were discussed afterwards and should be improved if possible in the future. There will also be appropriate discussions with the police and the rescue service.
In principle, the city and the fire brigade are prepared for further comparable operations. Further bomb disposals are expected in the city area in the coming years.
Final statement by Torsten Kolbe in the video:
1.10 a.m.: World War II bomb removed by explosive ordnance disposal service
The explosive ordnance disposal service removed the approximately 250-pound (approx. 113-kilogram) World War II bomb of American origin. According to the experts, the defusing was not a big challenge, but the corroded igniter caused some problems. Nevertheless, even after the major action, they emphasize the importance of evacuating 800 meters from the site.
Check out the full statement:
12:30 a.m.: Bomb defused
At around 0.30 a.m., the Leipzig fire brigade announced that the bomb had been defused. The lockdown will be lifted shortly.
11:45 p.m.: Defusing has begun
As fire department spokesman Torsten Kolbe reports, the defusing began around 11:45 p.m. All persons would have left the restricted area. The police secure the driveways and entrances.
The police are blocking all entrances and driveways to the restricted area.
© Erik-Holm Langhof
10:45 p.m.: Defusing the bomb is imminent
According to fire department spokesman Torsten Kolbe, the evacuation in the restricted area has been largely completed. “At 10:30 p.m., all emergency services were asked to leave the restricted area,” Kolbe told Sächsische.de. The fire brigade announced on Twitter: “According to current knowledge, the blockage will remain in place until midnight. If anything changes in the situation, we will of course let you know.”
The Leipzig public transport company has also informed corresponding reports about the stop or the diversion of their trains and buses on Twitter.
Now the actual defusing begins in the next few moments. How long this lasts is unclear. “The demolition expert will take as much time as he needs,” said Kolbe.
9:20 p.m.: Do I actually have to leave my apartment?
If an evacuation is ordered for your own home, you have to leave. Beforehand, the demolition expert makes a prognosis decision as to the area around the bomb site where the life and limb of residents could be endangered. The expulsion from the apartment is then legally binding – both for the police and for those affected.
“If there are indications that people could still be in an apartment, the emergency services will open it,” said the police. She advises to follow the request immediately and without discussion if possible. “The faster you can start disarming.”
If you hide at home anyway, you risk losing any claims for damages and also criminal prosecution, for example if you endanger others through your behavior.
9:06 p.m .: Still no precise schedule
The defusing of the World War II bomb in the south of Leipzig has still not started. According to the fire department, over 95 percent of the people have already been evacuated, but some do not want to leave their homes. This and the evacuation of several bedridden people, especially from high-rise buildings, continue to delay the start of the defusing.
Several rescue workers from the German Red Cross are in the restricted area and have taken people out of the area, some with special buses for wheelchairs. As fire brigade spokesman Torsten Kolbe further reports, just over 100 people have so far arrived in the emergency shelters set up by the city.
According to him, the defusing will definitely take place on Wednesday, even if it is at night. The explosive ordnance disposal service will wait until the evacuation is complete.
7:22 p.m .: No start of defusing yet
Even after 7:00 p.m., there has been no start of the defusing measure so far. According to the fire department, the evacuation continues.
According to the information, there are only a low three-digit number of residents in the two emergency shelters in the city.
6:02 p.m .: Massive traffic jam during rush hour
Traffic is backing up heavily around the evacuation area at the Alte Messe. B2 is not passable to the south. Detour routes are also congested. The police and fire brigade are blocking roads and keeping rescue lanes free.
Traffic jam on the B2 in the south of Leipzig. The streets are crowded during rush hour. There are long traffic jams.
© Erik-Holm Langhof
5:38 p.m.: Evacuation should be completed by 7 p.m
The clearance of the lockdown is progressing. According to the fire brigade, all apartments and buildings should have been evacuated by 7 p.m. so that the defusing work can start before nightfall.
At the site, the ordnance disposal service is preparing to defuse the World War II bomb.
Final preparations for defusing are underway at the bomb site.
© Erik-Holm Langhof
5:15 p.m .: Several shops have to be cleared
The police and the city’s public order office are not only evacuating residential buildings, but also several furniture stores, car dealerships and a supermarket. In addition, part of the university will be cleared.
Police officers evacuate a supermarket in the restricted area.
© Erik-Holm Langhof
The police department answers questions and rings at several houses.
© Erik-Holm Langhof
The police have closed several streets.
© Erik-Holm Langhof
4:57 p.m .: LVB drives with restrictions
The Leipziger Verkehrsbetriebe (LVB) will run with restrictions from 5 p.m. Because of the bomb disposal, several buses and trams are running shortened or with detours. The LVB informs about this on Twitter.
4.40 p.m .: Police and city of Leipzig in large-scale operation
Numerous police vehicles and officers from the Leipzig police authority can be seen around the site in the restricted area. They plan the evacuation and secure the site where the bomb was found.
Several police vehicles are parked around the site to secure it.
© SZ
4:27 p.m.: Evacuation starts at 5 p.m
According to fire department spokesman Thorsten Kolbe, the evacuation in the restricted area around the site starts at 5 p.m. Up to 3,500 people have to be evacuated. The public order office, fire brigade and police will work together to inform residents about leaving their apartment.
For people who cannot find accommodation, the city provides emergency accommodation in school gymnasiums for the time of the defusing work. Corresponding information as well as a complete overview of all roads affected can be found on the Website of the City of Leipzig.
According to Kolbe, the defusing of the bomb should still be carried out in sunlight. “This means that we want to have the work completed by nightfall so that people can go back to their homes,” said the fire department spokesman.
3.30 p.m .: restricted area set around location
The Leipzig fire brigade has set up a 800 meter restricted area around the site. Residents and people will probably have to leave this restricted area in the afternoon:
The following parts of the city of Leipzig have been declared a restricted area by the fire brigade. They are to be evacuated in the course of the afternoon.
© Fire Department Leipzig
3:15 p.m .: Fire brigade announces evacuation
We start our live ticker for bomb disposal in Leipzig. According to fire department spokesman Thorsten Kolbe, at least 3,500 people around the bomb site have to be evacuated in the afternoon/evening. The city is planning an appropriate evacuation together with the fire brigade and the police. Parts of the University of Leipzig are also affected.
The full statement by fire department spokesman Thorsten Kolbe: