Large, unexploded WWII bomb forces 2,500 to evacuate in Poland

Warsaw, Poland — A large, unexploded World War II bomb was discovered in the Polish city of Wrocław, forcing the evacuation of 2,500 residents on Friday. The 550-pound bomb was found near a railroad overpass in the southwestern Polish city during construction work.

The Polish Armed Forces said it was a German SC-250 aerial bomb of the war.

The city arranged for buses to take evacuated residents to safety while bomb disposal experts worked at the scene. According to Polish media reports, train services were also halted until the bomb was removed.

Police spokeswoman Alexandra Frias told broadcaster TVN24 that not all residents agreed to leave their homes and authorities could not force them to do so. Police issued a public call for evacuation, citing the “threat to human health and life posed by unexploded ordnance”.

During World War II, Wrocław was the German city of Breslau. It saw heavy fighting and widespread destruction, coming under heavy Soviet bombardment before Germany surrendered.

The city became part of Poland when the borders were redrawn after the war, forcing defeated Germany to leave the area.