WWII bomb kills disposal pros
Source: Agencies |
June 3, 2010, Thursday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THREE experts working to defuse a bomb from World War II were killed when the device exploded, injuring six others in the central German town of Goettingen, police said yesterday.
Some 7,000 residents from around the area, where the 500-kilogram heavy bomb was found, were still being evacuated when it blew up late on Tuesday.
Construction workers had found the 65-year-old explosive device about 7 meters below the ground on an empty site where the city is building a sport arena.
The three dead men, aged 38 to 55, were experienced in defusing bombs. It was not clear why the bomb exploded, Goettingen Police President Robert Kruse told a press conference yesterday.
He said two other experts were severely injured and four others were treated for shock. City spokesman Detlef Johannson said the team was still preparing to remove the detonator when the bomb exploded.
Unexploded bombs from Allied bombardments and World War I are found regularly in Germany.
Only a few days before, another bomb was found in Goettingen and was successfully defused.
Every German state has dozens of specialists trained to defuse old bombs, and accidents are rare.
Hundreds of police and firefighters are usually involved in helping evacuate people before experts attempt to defuse a bomb.
Some 7,000 residents from around the area, where the 500-kilogram heavy bomb was found, were still being evacuated when it blew up late on Tuesday.
Construction workers had found the 65-year-old explosive device about 7 meters below the ground on an empty site where the city is building a sport arena.
The three dead men, aged 38 to 55, were experienced in defusing bombs. It was not clear why the bomb exploded, Goettingen Police President Robert Kruse told a press conference yesterday.
He said two other experts were severely injured and four others were treated for shock. City spokesman Detlef Johannson said the team was still preparing to remove the detonator when the bomb exploded.
Unexploded bombs from Allied bombardments and World War I are found regularly in Germany.
Only a few days before, another bomb was found in Goettingen and was successfully defused.
Every German state has dozens of specialists trained to defuse old bombs, and accidents are rare.
Hundreds of police and firefighters are usually involved in helping evacuate people before experts attempt to defuse a bomb.
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