Buildings across central Cologne were evacuated following the discovery of three WWII bombs. The defusing operation was delayed because one resident refused to leave.

Large areas of Cologne’s city center were closed off on Wednesday as bomb disposal experts prepared to safely defuse three unexploded bombs dating back to World War II, which ended 80 years ago. This extensive evacuation operation, one of the largest ever conducted in the city since the conclusion of the war, required the orderly evacuation of approximately 20,000 residents and visitors from the affected zones.

The bombs were discovered on Monday in the district of Deutz, located on the eastern bank of the Rhine River, directly across from Cologne’s historic city center. The three devices consist of two 200-pound (approximately 90-kilogram) bombs and one 100-pound bomb, all manufactured in the United States during the wartime period. Due to the potential danger posed by these unexploded ordnance, local authorities swiftly ordered the evacuation of the surrounding area to ensure the safety of the public.

However, the operation faced delays when a resident in the old town refused to leave their apartment despite repeated evacuation orders. This resistance necessitated the involvement of public order officials, police, and firefighters who worked together to enforce the evacuation and remove the individual from the danger zone. Kai Kulschewski, the head of explosive ordnance disposal from the nearby city of Düsseldorf and coordinator of the defusal operation, stated that the bomb disposal team could not begin their work until every person had safely vacated the area.

“The defusing operation can only start once the last person has left the evacuation zone,” Kulschewski emphasized. As of Wednesday afternoon, the process of safely removing residents was still ongoing, but officials remained hopeful the bombs could be neutralized within the day.

The evacuation zone is extensive and includes the entire old part of Cologne, a district known for its narrow streets, historic architecture, and significant cultural landmarks. Among the properties within the affected area are 58 hotels catering to tourists, three bridges spanning the Rhine River, the town hall, and the railway station in Deutz. In addition, several museums, a hospital, and two care homes are also within the evacuation perimeter. Notably, the city’s iconic landmark, the Cologne Cathedral, is located just outside the danger zone and remains unaffected by the evacuation.

The evacuation has caused significant disruption to daily life in the city. Germany’s national rail operator, Deutsche Bahn, warned of numerous train cancellations and route diversions, complicating travel plans for commuters and visitors alike. Road traffic has also been heavily impacted, with many streets closed or congested due to the ongoing operation.

Bomb defusals of this nature are not uncommon in Cologne, a city that was heavily targeted by Allied bombing campaigns during World War II. Cologne was subjected to repeated air raids, including the British Royal Air Force’s first "thousand-bomber raid" on May 31, 1942. During that single raid, 1,455 tons of bombs were dropped, resulting in the destruction or damage of thousands of buildings across the city. The legacy of those attacks continues to affect Cologne today, with unexploded bombs frequently discovered during construction or excavation work, necessitating large-scale evacuations and disposal operations to keep residents safe.