The defusing of several World War II bombs caused traffic problems in the Ruhr area.
After a dud was found in Essen, the busy Autobahn 40 had to be closed - for around an hour in the middle of rush hour traffic.
Miles of traffic jams on the A40 and A52 were the result.
The bomb was discovered during construction work on the site of the new Aldi-Nord headquarters in the Kray district, as the city announced.
To defuse all buildings within 250 meters of the site were evacuated.
Mainly commercial enterprises and only 22 house residents were affected.
Four duds were defused in the Westfalenpark in Dortmund.
The B54 was temporarily closed for this.
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