Polish city evacuated after discovery of unexploded WWII bomb

Jo Harper

WARSAW (AA) – Residents in southwestern Polish city of Wroclaw were evacuated Friday morning after the discovery of an unexploded ordnance from WWII.

After a bomb was found during road repair works on Reymonta Street near Staszic Square, disposal unit carried 250 kg-German bomb to the CSWIiCh 'Rakow Wielki' training ground for defusal.

It was a German SC-250 aerial bomb remaining from the war period, according to Poland's armed forces.

Car and rail traffic was suspended and about 2,500 people were evacuated from Nadodrze.

“Perhaps the sapper patrol encountered difficulties,” said Wojciech Jablonski, spokesman for the Municipal Police Headquarters in Wroclaw, regarding the 2-hour operation.

“Not all residents agreed to leave their homes and authorities could not force them to do so. Police issued a public call to evacuate, citing a threat to human health and life caused by unexploded ordnance,’” police spokesperson Aleksandra Freus told commercial broadcaster TVN24.

During WWII, the city saw heavy fighting and destruction. It became part of Poland in 1945.