Cologne, Germany, successfully defused three large unexploded World War II bombs on Wednesday. Over 20,000 residents were evacuated from a 10,000 sq m area encompassing homes, businesses, a hospital, and a major train station. The operation, described as the city's largest since WWII, involved a door-to-door evacuation and temporary closure of roads and transport. While finding WWII ordnance is common in German cities, the size of these bombs necessitated the extensive operation. Despite disruptions, including relocation of wedding ceremonies, the operation concluded without incident.

Prepared by Rachel Morgan and reviewed by editorial team.