Two injured as WWII bomb defused in Potsdam evacuation

A bomb disposal operation in central Potsdam has left two people injured and forced the evacuation of thousands after authorities discovered a World War II-era explosive, authorities confirmed on Tuesday.

Emergency services were called to the scene shortly after 09:00 local time following reports of a suspicious device near the city’s main railway station. Police cordoned off a 500-metre radius, halting tram and bus services and suspending traffic on major arteries including Friedrich-Ebert-Straße and Hegelallee. The evacuation order affected businesses, government offices, and residential buildings in the immediate vicinity, with authorities advising residents to seek shelter in designated safe zones.

By 10:30, bomb disposal experts from the Brandenburg State Police had successfully defused the device without further incident. However, two individuals sustained minor injuries during the evacuation process—one from a fall and another from smoke inhalation—and were taken to nearby hospitals for observation. No further casualties have been reported.

The explosive, later identified as a British 500-pound aerial bomb, was uncovered during routine construction work near the former site of the Potsdam Garrison. City officials confirmed that bomb disposal teams had been on standby since the discovery, but the scale of the evacuation reflects the high-risk nature of such operations in densely populated urban areas.

“This was a controlled and necessary response,” said a spokesperson for the Brandenburg Interior Ministry. “The safety of residents and emergency personnel remains our top priority. We are reviewing the incident to determine how the device went undetected for so long.”

The disruption has caused significant delays in public transport, with regional rail services experiencing knock-on effects. Commuters are advised to check updated schedules before travelling. Local authorities have not yet announced when full access to the evacuated zone will be restored.

While such discoveries are not uncommon in Germany—particularly in former Allied bombing zones—this incident underscores the persistent legacy of wartime ordnance in Europe’s urban centres. In 2025 alone, bomb disposal teams in Berlin, Hamburg, and Cologne disarmed over 200 unexploded Second World War devices.

As the city begins to resume normal operations, residents are urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious objects immediately. Authorities have pledged increased monitoring of construction sites in high-risk areas to prevent future incidents.