Frankfurt police have successfully detonated a World War II-era phosphorus bomb discovered on the grounds of Frankfurt Airport, Germany. Construction workers found the bomb near the new Terminal 3, prompting a swift response from authorities to ensure safety.
The airport operator, Fraport, had warned that the operation might disrupt flights and advised passengers to check their flight status and allow extra time for their journeys. Fraport’s post on X, formerly known as Twitter, indicated that any disruptions were expected to last until 9 p.m. local time (20:00 GMT+1).
“Check flight status before traveling to the airport and allow extra time for your journey. We also recommend you check in as early as possible for your flight,” the post on X said.
Authorities closed a section of the A5 highway and restricted access to four runways during detonation. After the successful detonation, the highway was reopened.
The discovery of unexploded bombs from World War II is not uncommon in Germany due to the extensive bombing the country experienced during the war. Such discoveries often occur at construction sites and require careful handling.
In a similar incident on April 14, 2019, a World War II-era US bomb was detonated in Frankfurt’s River Main, leading to the evacuation of around 600 people from the city.
Despite the potential danger posed by the recent bomb, evacuations were not considered necessary, and the incident did not significantly affect air traffic or surrounding roads.
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