A 250-kilo WW2 bomb was found at an industrial development site in Montignies-sur-Sambre (Charleroi), on Thursday evening. A 1km-wide security perimeter was installed during the deactivation process by army de-mining experts on Friday morning. The perimeter was lifted at around 1:00 p.m.
The 250-kilo WW2 bomb was revealed on Thursday evening during excavation work in Montignies-sur-Sambre’s Rue de Hollande. The site was swiftly secured but the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit only started their work on Friday morning.
Local Charleroi police forces helped to widen the security perimeter to one kilometre while the deactivation took place. Approximately 100 homes near the industrial development site were evacuated. 4 streets were closed, and train and river traffic were halted.
After placing the bomb at the bottom of a deep trench, de-mining experts used a high pressure hydraulic device to open up the rocket and reach the detonator. The bomb contained 125 kilos of explosives which were deactivated at approximately 1:00pm. The security perimeter was removed, except in the immediate vicinity of the bomb. It will be transferred to the Oud-Heverlee base and destroyed.
(Source: Belga)
