A large unexploded bomb from World War Two, weighing 250kg (551lb), has been discovered in the center of the German city of Dresden, leading to a major evacuation. The device was found near the former Carola Bridge, which collapsed into the Elbe River in 2024. According to the Dresden fire brigade, this marks the city's largest evacuation to date for such an incident, affecting approximately 18,000 residents, tourists, and commuters.

Much of the old town has been cordoned off, including iconic landmarks such as the Frauenkirche Lutheran church, the Residenzschloss Palace, and the Semper Opera. The evacuated area also houses the police headquarters, Saxony's state parliament, several ministries, retirement and nursing homes, daycare centers, and other social institutions. Authorities are providing emergency accommodation at the Dresden Exhibition Centre from 07:00 (06:00 GMT), with additional buses and trams running to this location.

It remains unclear how long it will take to defuse the bomb. Dresden was attacked by British aircraft on February 13, 1945, and in the following days, the British and their US allies dropped nearly 4,000 tons of bombs on the city. The ensuing firestorm killed 25,000 people and devastated the city center, once renowned for its Baroque and Rococo architecture and nicknamed the "Jewel Box." Last year, four other bombs were found during demolition work on the Carola Bridge.

The bombing of Dresden is one of the most controversial Allied actions of World War Two, with some arguing it was strategically justified and others labeling it a war crime. It took many years to rebuild the renowned Semper Opera and Frauenkirche. British tenor Stephen Chaundy, currently working at the Semper Opera, told the BBC that rehearsals for Wednesday had been canceled, and reflecting on the British bombing of Dresden, he said, "The past casts a long shadow."

Source: www.bbc.com