Thousands Evacuated as WWII Bomb Detonated Near Paris

Thousands of residents were evacuated from a suburb of Paris after authorities carried out a controlled detonation of a World War II-era bomb discovered near a residential area.

The explosive device was found earlier this month in Colombes, a northwestern suburb of the French capital, prompting a large-scale security operation involving hundreds of police officers and bomb disposal experts.

Officials ordered residents within a safety perimeter to leave their homes early Sunday as specialists prepared the site for detonation. Reports indicate that more than a thousand people were evacuated, while roads and public transport services in the area were temporarily suspended.

The bomb, described as more than one meter long, could not be safely defused after an initial attempt to remove its detonator failed. Authorities then opted for a controlled underground explosion, which was carried out in a reinforced pit.

An AFP journalist at the scene reported hearing the blast in the afternoon, after which officials confirmed the operation had been successfully completed without casualties.

Authorities have since begun allowing residents to return to their homes, though investigations and safety checks are ongoing.

Unexploded ordnance from World War II continues to pose risks across Europe, where bombs are still frequently discovered during construction or excavation work, even decades after the war ended.