- Bomb defused in port - A7 lifted
Firefighters have successfully defused a World War II-era aircraft bomb in the Port of Hamburg. "The Explosive Ordnance Disposal team of the Hamburg Fire Department has completed the defusal of the bomb in Waltershof," the fire department tweeted. During the operation, the A7 motorway and the Hamburg Elbtunnel had to be fully closed, leading to kilometers-long traffic jams in both directions.
Previously, a 500-pound English-made aircraft bomb with a percussion fuse had been found on a company's premises near the motorway. The A7 between the Othmarschen and Waltershof junctions had to be fully closed as the Elbtunnel is located in the immediate vicinity of the bomb find. The Köhlbrand Bridge did not need to be closed. Motorists were advised to avoid Hamburg and the A7 and to use the detour via the A1, A21, and B205 in both directions.
The fire department had set a 300-meter exclusion zone around the bomb, which had to be evacuated. As it was an industrial area, there were no residents there. Additionally, a 500-meter warning radius was established. Within this radius, windows and doors had to be closed, and people were advised to stay on the side of the building away from the bomb. Two nearby ships were instructed to behave accordingly.
After the successful defusal, traffic resumed on the A7 motorway and the Hamburg Elbtunnel, alleviating the prolonged congestion experienced by commuters. Due to the previous discovery of the bomb, anyone living or working within a 1-kilometer radius of The Elbe Tunnel had been advised to follow specific safety protocols.
