At 10.59 the second of the two fuses of the 454 kg AN-M65 war bomb was removed, found in Avezzano (L'Aquila) on 11 February and which will be detonated in the next few hours in the Celi quarry, in nearby Massa d'Albe (L'Aquila).
This was communicated by the bomb squad of the Sixth Pioneer Engineers Regiment of the Italian Army.
The bomb, now defused, will be transported safely in a military convoy escorted by the traffic police.
In the meantime, self-sufficient citizens over eighty who have had to temporarily leave their homes have gathered in the Astra multi-cinema and are attending the screening of Alessandro Siani's film 'Through friendship'.
At the Avezzano interport, operational headquarters of the Italian Red Cross, Sister Tranquillina, originally from Istria, at the age of 104 waits praying, together with the 11 Apostle sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Even the lively dog Willy waits keeping company with human friends.
Also present were the president of the regional Red Cross Gabriele Perfetti and the head of the Abruzzo Civil Protection Mauro Casinghini.
All people and animals inside the 'red zone' have been evacuated, the city of Avezzano (L'Aquila) is empty to allow for the defusing of the WWII bomb Mark 65, code name AN-M65 , of 454 kg found on February 11 during the excavation of a house in the center.
In the urban perimeter, 80 cameras are in operation which will monitor the city to prevent any episodes of looting until the return of the residents to their homes, expected in the early afternoon.
The perimeter of the radius of possible action of the war device was closed by agents and volunteers.
Now the military 6th Pioneer Engineers Regiment will accompany the bomb squad who, it is estimated in about an hour's work, will make the device completely safe and transportable by removing the fuzes inside.