Experts Defuse World War II Bomb in German City of Cologne

Experts Defuse World War II Bomb in German City of Cologne
The excavator that uncovered the bomb stands in front of the Hohenzollern Bridge in Cologne, Germany, on Jan. 21, 2020. Roberto Pfeil/dpa via AP
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Explosives experts on Tuesday successfully defused an unexploded American bomb from World War II in the western German city of Cologne, authorities said.

The 1,100-pound bomb was found Monday evening during construction near the Rhine River in the center of the city. A TV station and the opera house had to be evacuated during the defusing operation. Shipping on the river and air traffic overhead were also interrupted before the defusing operation got underway.