Authorities in Cologne, Germany, safely defused three large unexploded World War II bombs after evacuating over 20,000 people in the city’s largest postwar operation.

The bombs, discovered in a shipyard in Deutz, triggered evacuations of homes, schools, hospitals, and key infrastructure, including a major train station.

Streets were emptied, transport disrupted, and cultural sites shut down.

Residents were warned they could face fines or forced removal if they refused to leave, the BBC has reported.

While bomb discoveries are common in Germany, these were notably large, prompting a widespread and carefully coordinated response.

Written by B.C. Begley