The earthworks of the future CHU, on the island of Nantes, where the bomb was found.
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F. Brenon / 20Minutes
More fear than harm.
A bomb dating from the Second World War was discovered this Wednesday afternoon on the island of Nantes.
It was workers working on the earthworks of the future Nantes University Hospital who discovered the explosive device around 4 p.m.
The demining services were immediately alerted.
A security perimeter was established by the national police, causing the temporary closure of the Trois-Continents bridge, the boulevard de l'Estuaire and the boulevard Gustave-Roch.
Police said the bomb contained an explosive charge of 500 kg.
It was finally defused without incident, around 6 p.m., by the specialized service.
[# demining] The deminers have completed the # bomb defusing operation in the construction site of the future #Nantes University Hospital.
Thank you to the fireworks and the intervening #Police officers.
pic.twitter.com/0k8M11MExK
- Police Nationale 44 (@ PoliceNat44) February 3, 2021
Already a 500 kg bomb in the area
This sector of Nantes had been bombed several times during the Second World War because of the proximity of the port facilities.
In September 2006, an American 250 kg bomb was discovered on the Tourville quay, near the CHU.
Its defusing had required the evacuation of nearly 20,000 people on Sunday.
In June 2013, another US bomb of 500 kg, discovered on Boulevard du Tertre, west of Nantes, had been neutralized.
Nearly 4,000 people had been evacuated.
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