Aerial bomb successfully defused in Duisburg-Kaßlerfeld!

Aerial bomb successfully defused in Duisburg-Kaßlerfeld!

Late on Tuesday evening, September 24th, 2025, an aerial bomb from the Second World War caused a stir in Duisburg-Kaßlerfeld. The 500 kilogram British bomb was discovered during construction work and turned out to be dangerous because it had an impact detonator. Experts from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Service were immediately alerted to bring the situation under control.

The bomb was located in the afternoon, which made it necessary to evacuate a large area. Around 1,400 people had to leave their homes within a radius of 600 meters, including residents of a retirement home and residents of residential areas and businesses. The A40 was temporarily closed in both directions, as were some inner-city streets and a freight train route, to enable defusing.

Evacuation and waiting time

However, the defusing began later than planned. Unexpected delays in patient transport from the retirement home meant that the causes waited impatiently for the signal to return. The bomb was originally scheduled to be defused at 8 p.m., but the specialists had their hands full securing the evacuated zones and getting residents to safety in time.

Finally, at 10:30 p.m. the all-clear was given: the bomb had been successfully defused and the detonator had been detonated in a controlled manner on site. This procedure is part of the civilian disposal of explosive ordnance, which is systematically organized in Germany to eliminate dangers from the past. These measures are not only important for security, but also require a comprehensive historical analysis and assessment of the situation, as Wikipedia states.

Return and Restoration

The all-clear, which was broadcast by sirens and via the NINA warning app, allowed evacuated citizens to return to their homes. The road closures were quickly lifted and the A40 was able to be opened after it had been defused. This brought great relief to the residents who had been waiting to return in this tense situation.

The challenge of such operations should not be underestimated. Defusing explosive ordnance, as is also practiced in Duisburg, requires special knowledge and skills. In post-war Germany, the Allied occupying forces initially took care of eliminating war secrets before the federal states established their own services. Today, the safety of citizens is the highest priority and is ensured by the qualified teams of the explosive ordnance disposal service.

An incident like the one in Duisburg is an all-too-clear reminder that wartime legacies can still pose a threat decades later and that it is important to carefully monitor affected areas and act quickly if necessary. The events of September 24th are a striking example of how collaboration and organization play a crucial role in crisis management.