Explosion of WWII Bomb Forces Evacuation of Thousands in Paris Suburb

Thousands of residents were temporarily evacuated from a suburb north of Paris on Sunday after authorities carried out a controlled explosion to neutralise a World War Two bomb discovered during construction work.

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Police ordered people living within a 450-metre radius of the device in Colombes to leave their homes by 07:00 local time (05:00 GMT) as bomb disposal teams prepared to deal with the unexploded munition.

The operation was completed later in the afternoon, and officials confirmed that residents were able to return home by early evening.

Large-scale evacuation

The bomb was originally discovered on 10 April on Rue des Champarons during construction work. Authorities quickly secured the area and covered the device with sand while planning how to safely remove it.

On Sunday morning, emergency alerts were sent to residents instructing them to leave the evacuation zone. Police warned that people would not be allowed back until the disposal operation had been completed.

Nearly 800 police officers were deployed to enforce the restrictions around the site.

A 900-metre-wide security perimeter was established around the bomb’s location. Within this zone, residents had to evacuate entirely. A wider zone extending about one kilometre from the site allowed people to remain inside their homes but limited outdoor movement.

Reception centres were opened to assist displaced residents, including facilities for those requiring medical support.

Controlled detonation

An initial attempt by bomb disposal experts to remove the detonator reportedly failed, according to French media reports.

Authorities then decided to destroy the historic device where it had been found through a controlled explosion.

Police said the detonation took place at 15:20 local time on Sunday. The evacuation order was lifted shortly after 16:00 once officials confirmed the area was safe.

In a statement, the Préfet des Hauts-de-Seine said the operation had been carried out successfully.

Local official Alexandre Brugère had earlier warned that the procedure involved significant risks and required extensive preparation.

Residents were instructed to close their windows and shutters before leaving their homes. One resident, Alida, told the newspaper Le Parisien that she left without taking belongings.

“The authorities told us to close our windows and shutters when we left the house, but we didn’t take anything – we left everything as it was,” she said.

Legacy of wartime explosives

Unexploded bombs from World War Two continue to be discovered across Europe decades after the conflict ended, often during construction or infrastructure work.

Devices uncovered in densely populated urban areas can present particular challenges due to the risk to nearby residents.

Paris has seen several similar incidents in recent years. Last year, a 500-kilogram bomb was found near the Gare du Nord railway station while workers were installing a new bridge above the tracks.

Elsewhere in Europe, wartime explosives are regularly discovered in major cities, including London, where bomb finds have led to evacuations of tourist areas and temporary closures of London City Airport.

Authorities say such operations require careful planning to ensure public safety while bomb disposal experts deal with the historic munitions.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 20 April 2026