Bomb in Kiel-Gaarden: 6900 evacuees return after defusing!

Bomb in Kiel-Gaarden: 6900 evacuees return after defusing!

There was a lot going on in Kiel last week! Between November 30th and December 5th, numerous important events occurred that kept the city's residents in suspense. The Sunday on which a factory bomb from the Second World War was defused is particularly remembered. Around 6,900 residents had to leave their homes - a real feat of strength that was not entirely without delays.

The defusal involved a 500-kilogram aerial bomb that was discovered during construction work at the university's technical faculty. The explosive ordnance disposal service had control of the situation around 1 p.m., although defusing went faster than originally expected. The danger was averted after just 30 minutes, but the evacuation of residents took much longer. A spokesman for the Kiel police explained that defusing the bomb was made more complicated by the deformed shape of the bomb. Fortunately, the head detonator could be removed manually without using any technical aids. The original plan was for a more involved process that would have taken more time, with firefighters having to use a drone to search the restricted area to ensure everyone was evacuated. Road traffic routes also had to be closed, which affected shipping traffic in the Kiel Canal. Many residents, including older people in nursing homes, were brought to safety by the fire department. The evacuation also included several nursing facilities and lasted over two hours, while some 300 people were housed at the Hans Christian Andersen District School because they had nowhere else to go.

Change in the Kiel health services

On Monday there was a significant change in the management of the municipal hospital in Kiel. Roland Ventzke, who was at the helm of the hospital for over 25 years, will now hand over responsibility, but will remain in a staff position as authorized signatory. His successor is Nicole Schröder, who has been working with Ventzke for two years. This personnel brings a breath of fresh air to the city's healthcare system and could also bring a new approach to patient care.

A slump and increase in juvenile crime

Unfortunately there wasn't only positive news this week. On Tuesday, the police reported a break-in at a DHL packing station in Kiel-Suchsdorf, in which 20 of almost 120 compartments were damaged. The perpetrators particularly targeted the smaller compartments. The investigation is currently ongoing and the police are still in the dark.

On Wednesday, the number of juvenile crimes in Kiel increased by 153 young people compared to the previous year. The young people mainly attracted attention through thefts and physical injuries. The police attribute this increase primarily to the catch-up effects of the corona pandemic.

Transport reform and school strike

But it's not just negative headlines that determine the news. On Thursday, a new transport contract was signed between the state of Schleswig-Holstein and Deutsche Bahn for the Kiel-Hamburg route. The new contract will ensure that DB Regio operates the route until at least December 2039, including new trains scheduled to run from December 2027. This development could be very appealing to commuters and travelers.

The crowning conclusion of the week was a school strike in Kiel on Friday, in which thousands of students demonstrated against the new military service law. The Bundestag had just passed a law that requires compulsory military service for young men. The next big demo is planned for March 5, 2026 and could put the topic further on the agenda.

Finally, there is also a positive outlook. On Saturday, December 13th, the premiere of the play “Snow White” will be celebrated in the Kiel Opera House. Remaining tickets are available on the Kiel Theater website. Maybe a good reason to spend a nice evening with the family!