Bazooka rocket and grenade found in Rhine River near Koblenz to be detonated

Explosives disposal experts are preparing to detonate a World War II-era bazooka rocket and a rifle grenade discovered in the Rhine River near Koblenz, Germany. The controlled explosions are scheduled for Tuesday morning to neutralize the dangerous finds.

The bazooka rocket was found on the Rhine riverbank in the Wallersheim district on Friday afternoon and its authenticity was confirmed by the Rhineland-Palatinate ordnance disposal service. A rifle grenade was subsequently discovered on Saturday evening near the riverbank in the Pfaffendorf district. City officials stated that neither find posed an immediate danger to the public, and the items have been under guard by Koblenz public order office employees since their discovery.

For the disposal of the bazooka rocket in Wallersheim, an evacuation zone of approximately 100 meters around the site will be established. The area must be cleared by 8 a.m. on Tuesday, after which the public order office will conduct checks to ensure no one remains before the ordnance disposal team can begin its work. Similarly, for the rifle grenade in Pfaffendorf, the evacuation zone must be vacated by 10 a.m.

During both controlled explosions, the airspace above the affected areas and the Rhine River itself will be temporarily closed. The city announced that these measures are necessary to ensure the safety of the public during the disposal operations.