500kg World War II bomb found in Germany

A large World War II aerial bomb has been discovered at Johannes-Gisberts-Park in Cologne. The 500-kilogram projectile was found during specialized search operations conducted in recent days.

Experts had previously inspected 150 suspicious sites in the area. Most were deemed safe, narrowing the list down to 14 points. The aerial bomb was located at one of these spots.

Due to the discovery, a 500-meter safety zone was established. As a result, approximately 4,300 people were temporarily evacuated.

A children's hospital near Johannes-Gisberts-Park was also cleared. The 43 patients being treated at the hospital were transferred to other facilities.

The evacuation also affected the operations of a kindergarten, the Lentpark swimming pool, and the botanical garden.

Several streets in Cologne were closed while the bomb was being defused. Traffic on roads leading to the bridge was restricted. Additionally, one tram line and three bus routes were temporarily suspended.