Berlin Neukölln: WWII bomb discovery prompts evacuation of 5,600 households

Berlin authorities are undertaking a large-scale evacuation in the Neukölln district after the discovery of a World War II bomb in the shipping canal. The unexploded ordnance necessitates the relocation of residents from 5,600 households within a 500-meter radius of the find.

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The residents of 5,600 households must leave their homes.

The operation began on Thursday afternoon, with police establishing the exclusion zone. The duration of the evacuation and subsequent defusal process remains uncertain, with authorities anticipating the operation could extend into the evening or night. An emergency shelter has been set up to provide support for those displaced by the evacuation.

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An exclusion zone of 500 meters has been established around the discovery site.

Around 200 police officers are involved in the operation, supported by the fire department, the Red Cross, and the Technical Relief Agency (THW). The affected area includes a senior citizens' home, a homeless shelter, and a daycare center, all of which are within the safety perimeter.

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The operation in Berlin-Neukölln could extend into the late evening or night.

The 100-kilogram bomb was found on the bed of the Neukölln Shipping Canal earlier in the day. It has since been lifted from the water and placed on a floating pontoon. The next step involves using a crane to move the bomb ashore, where specialists will attempt to defuse it. The busy Sonnenallee street is located just a few blocks away from the bomb site.

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The 100-kilogram explosive device was found on the bottom of the Neukölln Shipping Canal in the morning.