A 500-pound bomb the United States dropped during a bombing raid over Italy during World War II didn’t explode -- until Sunday.
The bomb was found near a cathedral in Balzano, not far from a train station, the likely intended target, during construction of a shopping center, the ANSA news agency reported.
About 4,000 people were evacuated while experts spent more than three hours defusing the bomb before it was taken to a controlled site and detonated, online newspaper Neue Suedtiroler Tageszeitung reported.
Gegen 16:00 Uhr ist die Fliegerbombe vom Bozner Verdiplatz im Pulverlager in Vahrn kontrolliert gesprengt worden. Im Einsatz waren insgesamt 607 Personen und 205 Fahrzeuge von 21 Organisationen und Behörden. Regierungskommissär Vito Cusumano, Bevölkerungsschutz-Agentur-Direktor Rudolf Pollinger und Bürgermeister Renzo Caramaschi danken für die Zusammenarbeit! // Verso le ore 16 l'ordigno despolettato è arrivato a Varna ed è stato fatto brillare. Tutta l'operazione ha visto impegnati oltre 600 persone e più di 200 mezzi di 21 enti. Il prefetto Cusumano, il sindaco Caramaschi e il direttore della protezione civile Pollinger ringraziano operatori e cittadini. 📸 FF Vahrn / Privat
Posted by Landesfeuerwehrverband Südtirol on Sunday, October 20, 2019
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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