The 500-kilogram (1,100-pound) UK bomb, which is currently being defused, was found at Heidestrasse street, after which police ordered all the buildings located within a 800-meter (over 2,600 feet) radius of the explosive to be evacuated, Der Tagesspiegel media outlet reported.
A number of buildings, including the Central Railway Station, Economy Ministry, Federal Intelligence Service (BND), and the Indonesia and Uzbekistan Embassies, were also evacuated.
READ MORE: Huge UK WWII Bomb Found in Berlin's Downtown to Force Mass Evacuation
Mass Evacuations in Berlin, due to a Bombing of the Second World War https://t.co/dUyCvd5j9z pic.twitter.com/YHaAodzHH0
— 13ACE (@dariollanaj44) 20 апреля 2018 г.
The evacuation caused disruptions in road and railway traffic in central Berlin. Flights were not canceled, but landing planes were told to avoid flying over the bomb site.
World War II bomb disposal to force evacuation in central Berlin: The disposal of an unexploded World War II bomb will bring disruption Friday to Berlin as police attempt to defuse the 500-kilogram explosive. https://t.co/r2sHP9sdqJ pic.twitter.com/55YUrCjL8m
— Matt White (@matt_white79) 19 апреля 2018 г.
Last week, German bomb disposal experts successfully dismantled a 1.8-tonne UK bomb found in the town of Paderborn.
BERLIN GERMANY — A World War 2 bomb will be defused in Berlin's Mitte district on Fri 20 April. The evacuation zone, in place from 9am, includes Berlin's central train station. Travel disruption is expected. Follow advice of local authorities if in the area pic.twitter.com/AtrSo2OdgT
— GD travel (@GDTraveltips) 19 апреля 2018 г.
German cities are regularly evacuated over bombs that date back to World War II.
