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Hundreds evacuated as World War II bomb found north of Berlin

The 100kg American-made explosive device was found during construction work in Hermsdorf, part of the Reinickendorf district in northern Berlin.

Hundreds evacuated as World War II bomb found north of Berlin
Police stand over the discovered bomb. Image: DPA

Around 200 police officers were in the area. The police tweeted the following map which shows the impacted area. 

A radius of 500 metres has been cordoned off as officials attempt to diffuse the device. Two kindergartens, schools and a youth welfare facility have all been evacuated – along with homes in the area. 

For those who are unable to find alternate accommodation, a temporary centre will be set up at the Georg-Herwegh-Gymnasium during the operation. 

Trains on the local S-Bahn line, which runs through the area, will be suspended until the device is defused. This includes the B96 and S1 lines.

A rail replacement bus has been set up by authorities. Cars will also be forbidden from entering the area. 

Bomb discovery common across Germany

Uncovering World War Two bombs is relatively common in Germany. In April 2019 a 250kg bomb was found near Frankfurt, the detonation of which caused a massive water fountain

SEE ALSO: What you need to know about WWII bomb disposals in Germany

Also in April, the discovery of a bomb on the outskirts of Cologne led to significant disruption and delays.

At the end of March, 10,000 people were evacuated in Rostock after a WWII bomb discovery.

In February, over 4,000 residents in Essen were evacuated when an American bomb was found during construction work.

Just a couple of weeks later, a 250 kilogram bomb was found in the centre of Nuremberg during construction work, leading to the evacuation of 8,000 residents.

The largest post-war evacuation happened in September 2017, following the discovery of a bomb weighing several tons near the Frankfurt university campus. More than 60,000 people were affected.

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EXPLOSION

Gothenburg apartment blast suspect found dead

Prosecutors have said that the man suspected as being behind a detonation in Gothenburg last week has been found dead on Wednesday after an apparent suicide.

Police by a Gothenburg pier
Police close to where the suspect's body was found in the water. Photo: Adam Ihse/TT

Named as Mark Lorentzon by Swedish media, the man was suspected of being behind the pre-dawn blast last Tuesday that injured 16 people at the building where he lived.

City workers pulled a body out of a central Gothenburg waterway early Wednesday that “was identified as that of the man sought by police and prosecutors… after the explosion in a building,” prosecutors said in a statement.

They added that suicide was the most plausible cause of death. The man was the subject of an international arrest warrant issued earlier this week.

The suspect, who had been due to be evicted from the building on the day of the explosion, had vanished without a trace.

The blast, which sparked a major fire, landed 16 people in hospital including four with serious injuries, and residents of 140 apartments were evacuated.

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