Police defuse WWII bomb in Berlin after mass evacuation

A World War II bomb has been defused in the centre of Berlin following the evacuation of some 10,000 people.

A WWII bomb is removed  in Berlin on April 20.

A WWII bomb is removed in Berlin on April 20. Source: AAP

Bomb disposal experts have defused a World War II bomb in Berlin after evacuating an area in the heart of the city including the central train station, a hospital and the Economy Ministry.

The 500kg British bomb was discovered during building work this week, more than seven decades after the end of the war.

Some 10,000 people - including residents, hospital patients and office workers - were evacuated from 9am on Friday from buildings within an 800-metre radius of the bomb while experts performed the delicate operation.
Police officers patrol the evacuated area.
Police officers patrol the evacuated area. Source: AAP
Police posted a video on Twitter showing officers walking up the stairs in an apartment building with the caption: "We're not bringing room service or breakfast in bed but a personal wake-up call."

They gave the all-clear in the early afternoon and the city began getting back to normal.

Long-distance and local train transport at the central station was disrupted for several hours but police said on Twitter that the station had now re-opened. Bus and tram services also restarted.

The evacuation area included the Natural History Museum, the BND intelligence agency, a clinic of the Charite hospital and an army hospital.

Some roads were closed but were due to gradually reopen.

Germany still discovers more than 2000 tonnes of live bombs and munitions every year.

Last year some 60,000 people were evacuated from their homes in Frankfurt after a massive bomb dropped by Britain's Royal Air Force was unearthed.


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