WW2 bomb forces highway closure
February 11 2008 at 12:59AM Hanover - Traffic backed up on a main autobahn through Germany, the A2, on Sunday as bomb disposal experts gingerly tugged the detonator out of a World War 2 Allied bomb.
The recovery of the unexploded 500kg bomb from the soil of Hanover, northern Germany, had been planned weeks in advance, with 12 000 people ordered to leave their apartments nearby for part of the day.
Most went for walks or excursions.
Police re-opened the highway after the bomb was declared safe to dig up and transport away.
The municipality regularly digs up unexploded bombs. Its previous major evacuation was on January 1.
Hanover has a department that hunts for the "duds" using grainy, Allied aerial photographs that were taken just after the bombing raids. - Sapa-dpa
IOL: WW2 bomb forces highway closure