World War Two bomb safely defused after evacuation in Paris suburb

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Paris: Thousands of residents were evacuated from a suburb in northern Paris after a World War Two bomb was discovered and safely neutralised on Sunday.

Authorities in Colombes ordered people living within a 450-metre radius of the site to leave their homes early in the morning while bomb disposal experts carried out a controlled operation. A wider security zone was also put in place, restricting movement in surrounding areas.

The bomb was found on April 10 during construction work on Rue des Champarons. The area was immediately secured, and the device was covered with sand while preparations were made for disposal.

Officials said an initial attempt to remove the detonator failed. As a result, experts carried out a controlled explosion at the site to safely destroy the device.

Around 800 police officers were deployed to enforce safety measures. Emergency centres were also set up to support evacuated residents, including those needing medical assistance.

Residents were instructed to leave their homes and wait until the operation was completed before returning. One resident said people left quickly after receiving alerts, leaving their belongings behind.

Authorities later confirmed that the operation was completed successfully and the evacuation order was lifted in the evening after the area was declared safe.

Officials said the operation required careful planning due to the risks involved.

Unexploded World War Two bombs are still found across Europe, often during construction work in urban areas, and similar evacuations have taken place in cities such as London and Paris in recent years