Bomb (Air Delivered) event in Wiesbaden area, Germany on Wed 3rd April 2024

500 kilo unexploded bomb Bomb in Wiesbaden defused with delay 

The explosive ordnance disposal service has defused a 500 kilogram World War II bomb in the Biebrich district of Wiesbaden. Resistance from residents and numerous prone transports had delayed the evacuation for hours.

A 500 kilo bomb from the Second World War discovered during construction work near the Kallebad in Wiesbaden-Biebrich was successfully defused on Wednesday. Around 10,000 residents had to leave their homes because of this. The authorities gave the all-clear at around 2:20 p.m.
Transports and resistance took time

The explosive ordnance disposal service had actually wanted to defuse the unexploded bomb by 12 p.m. However, there were delays in evacuating the one kilometer restricted area around the site. Several residents resisted the police's request to leave their houses and apartments.

In addition, there were many short-term prone transports that would have taken more time, according to the public order office, fire department, police and various aid organizations during the ongoing evacuation operation. Residents reported to the city at short notice by mid-morning.

For people who cannot stay with family, friends or acquaintances outside the exclusion zone, the city has set up a care center with 200 places in the association house in the Dotzheim district. There were also eight daycare centers and three schools in the restricted area, and there was no emergency care during the holidays.
Motorways closed, rail traffic suspended

The A66 was completely closed in the morning between Wiesbaden-Biebrich and Wiesbaden-Frauenstein and the A643 between Wiesbaden-Äppelallee and Schiersteiner Kreuz. Deutsche Bahn also stopped passenger and freight traffic on the route between Wiesbaden-Biebrich and Eltville (Rheingau-Taunus) from 11.40 a.m.

After the defusing, residents were allowed to return to their homes. Traffic was reopened on the affected highways. Rail traffic started again in the afternoon, but there were still a few cancellations and delays on the route. The buses in Wiesbaden started running again shortly after the deactivation.