Germany evacuates 20,000 residents after WWII bombs found in Cologne

COLOGNE, GERMANY - JUNE 4: Officials take security measures after approximately 20,000 residents were evacuated from central Cologne, Germany, following the discovery of three unexploded World War II bombs during construction work near the Deutz shipyards on June 4, 2025. The evacuation zone, extending 1,000 meters from the site, encompassed critical infrastructure, including schools, museums, and key bridges over the Rhine River. The bombs, American-made and over 80 years old, were equipped with impact fuses and weighed 90kg and 45kg. Authorities successfully defused and removed them on June 4, 2025, marking Cologne's largest evacuation since WWII . (Photo by Kadir Ilboga/Anadolu via Getty Images)