3 World War II bombs found in Cologne, thousands evacuated

Around 20,000 people were being evacuated from central Cologne, Germany Wednesday after three unexploded World War II bombs were found, the biggest such operation in the German city since the end of the war.

Bomb squad technicians were planning to defuse the three explosives, two weighing 1,000 kilograms and one 500 kg, which were found during building work Monday in the Deutz area on the east bank of the River Rhine. Road and train lines were closed and city officials were going door to door to clear the evacuation zone of about 10,000 square metres which included three bridges over the river.