Summary
In Cologne, Germany, over 20,000 residents were evacuated on Wednesday after three World War II-era bombs were discovered during exploratory work. The bombs, two American 2000-pounders and one 1000-pounder, were defused in an operation that lasted nearly 12 hours, marking the largest evacuation in the city since WWII. The incident disrupted local businesses, transportation, and essential services, with officials confirming the successful defusal and gradual reopening of the area shortly after 7 p.m. local time.
