Defusing a bomb: Bomb defused in Essen's Rüttenscheid entertainment district

What happened?

On Tuesday evening, June 6, 2023, a 250-kilogram aerial bomb from the Second World War was defused in Essen's Rüttenscheid district.

The bomb was discovered during construction work on Rüttenscheider Straße.

The Essen fire brigade, the police and the ordnance disposal service were on site with a large contingent.

As a precaution, around 2,500 residents had to leave their homes within a radius of 300 meters around the bomb.

The evacuation was completed around 7:30 p.m.

The Essen fire brigade set up a meeting point for those affected in the Rüttenscheid community center.

The defusing of the bomb began around 8:30 p.m.

The ordnance disposal service first removed the bomb's fuse.

Then the bomb was transported to a safe place and detonated there in a controlled manner.

At around 11:30 p.m., the all-clear was given.

The residents were able to return to their homes.

The Rüttenscheider Straße was reopened to traffic.