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Thousands evacuated after WWII bomb found in Cologne

The Local Germany
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Thousands evacuated after WWII bomb found in Cologne
File photo of a Second World War bomb: DPA

Several thousands people were being evacuated from a district of Cologne just north of the old town on Thursday morning, after a Second World War bomb was found in a parking lot.

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Explosives experts from Cologne police were searching the neighbourhood of Riehl, on the west bank of the Rhine on Wednesday when they the discovered the American-made explosive, the Rheinische Post reports.

A total of 3,500 people who live within a 700-metre radius of the discovery are set to be affected by the evacuation.

Experts plan to defuse the bomb on Thursday afternoon.

Drivers have also been advised to avoid the area around the Mülheim Bridge on both banks of the river.

Over 70 years after the end of the Second World War, it is still common for unexploded bombs dropped by the Allies to be found in German urban centres.

This operation is comparatively small compared to evacuations that have taken place in the past.

In Hanover in 2013, 25,000 people had to leave their homes after several bombs were discovered in the northeast of the city.

Meanwhile city authorities in Berlin announced last year that they believe there are still 3,000 unexploded bombs lying under the city.

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