Berlin-Friedrichshain: World War II bomb discovered on construction site

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Duds in Berlin: 500 kilograms in weight, equipped with two detonators

Photo: Paul Zinken / dpa

A World War II bomb was found during construction work near Berlin's Ostkreuz train station.

The explosive device is estimated to weigh 500 kilograms, said a police spokesman.

The officers set up a 500-metre exclusion zone and then began clearing all of the buildings in it.

The police are on site with around 250 forces.

About 12,000 people were affected by the evacuations.

The train station is also in the restricted area.

S-Bahn trains therefore temporarily drove through the station without stopping.

The Berlin Traffic Information Center also announced extensive road closures, with Stralauer Allee including Elsenbrücke being particularly affected.

Disarmed bomb should go to Grundwald

According to the “Berliner Morgenpost”, long-distance and regional trains are again routed around the Ostkreuz.

Short-term impairments are also to be expected in shipping.

According to the police, specialists are currently preparing to defuse the dud.

According to the spokesman, they plan to remove the two detonating heads of the bomb on site.

A high-pressure water jet cutting machine should also be used for this purpose.

The police asked the residents with two loudspeaker vans to leave their homes.

In addition, around 250 police officers went from door to door to bring everyone within the restricted area to safety.

It is unclear how long the closure will last, but the operation is likely to last for several hours.

"Up to 12,000 people could be in the area of ​​the restricted area and it will take time," said a police spokeswoman.

The bomb should then be taken to the police detonation site in Berlin's Grunewald without the detonators.

After the forest fire in the past few weeks, there are safe areas again, as the "Morgenpost" reported, citing a police spokeswoman.

Explosions had triggered a major fire in Grunewald two weeks ago, and in the meantime it was burning around 50 hectares.

Apr/AFP/dpa