Bomb discovery in Cologne: weddings and traffic paralyzed!

Bomb discovery in Cologne: weddings and traffic paralyzed!

Next Wednesday it could be turbulent in Cologne. The city is preparing for significant disruption due to an urgent need to defuse a bomb. A dangerous situation was discovered in the city center: two American 20-can bombs and a ten-can bomb, all with impact detonators, were found. This requires comprehensive security measures to protect the population and ensure public safety. The city administration has therefore put together a comprehensive evacuation concept so that everything can run smoothly.

As the Baden newspaper reported, security measures begin at 8 a.m. with bell ringing and road closures throughout the entire evacuation area. The wedding ceremonies that were planned for that day in the historic town hall have to be moved to the Porz district as the area around the subway stops will be severely affected. RTL Deutschland has instructed its employees at its Cologne headquarters to work from the mobile office while live broadcasts have been relocated to Berlin.

Evacuation and emergency shelter

The city of Cologne is setting up emergency shelters for evacuees. Citizens can seek safety in exhibition hall 10.1 on the right bank of the Rhine and in the Humboldtstrasse vocational college on the left bank of the Rhine, among other places. However, please note that pets are not allowed in these accommodations. In order to make the situation as transparent as possible for everyone affected, information is provided via a citizen hotline on 0221/221-0 or 115.

All streets in the evacuation area will be checked by the security service from 1:30 p.m. During this time, Deutsche Bahn expects massive disruptions to long-distance traffic. Although Cologne Central Station remains unaffected by the exclusion zone, the Cologne Messe/Deutz stops and the Hohenzollern Bridge are affected, meaning trains have to be rerouted and delayed. The ICE Sprinter trains between Cologne and Berlin as well as some connections between Cologne and Stuttgart are particularly affected.

Public transport and alternatives

The Cologne transport company (KVB) has also noticed massive disruptions in its operations. Several light rail and bus lines will be affected, which is why the KVB recommends avoiding the city center area during the evacuation measures. Many buses and trains will not stop at their usual stops during this time.

A look at the entire incident shows how important it is to put citizens' safety first. WDR television will report on the evacuation and the bomb disposal in several special editions. In this way, the media ensures that the population always remains informed and can prepare for the upcoming challenges in the best possible way. The Ortenau Journal and WDR report comprehensively on the events and all relevant developments.