How was this 222-kilo American bomb neutralized in Caen?
Through Margaux Rousset
Published on
This Sunday, January 22, 2023, a 222kg American bomb was demined at Caen (Calvados). It had been discovered on October 5 during a construction site at the corner of rue de Bayeux and du Boulevard Detolle. Since then, it had remained at this location, secured in place underground by the deminers. Until this Sunday, January 22.
Usually, during a debombing, a security perimeter is put in place and the surrounding residents and businesses are evacuated for several hours, the time required for the intervention of the demining teams. This is what happened recently, on January 15, in Colombelles, for an English bomb this time.
No evacuation
A week later, for the one discovered in Caen, the protocol is not the same. “The bomb was primed but the system was not armed,” explains the head of Caen deminers. Thus, the Prefecture of Calvados, in agreement with the demining services and the City of Caen, decided to neutralize the device to another place for avoid the establishment of a security perimeter and the evacuation of the inhabitants. “To unlatch a bomb like that is extremely rare,” adds the head of deminers.
This ammunition, “1m20 in length, 36cm in diameter and containing 110kg of explosives”, was secured and transported in a specialized van to the exhibition center. The trip went smoothly since traffic was prohibited all morning on the course.
Destroyed on military ground
Worms 10:40 a.m.the bomb arrived at the site and the debombing operation itself could begin. “It is for the deminers to extract the primer fuses and the detonators. These will be destroyed on site“, specifies the Prefecture of Calvados.
Around noon, the deminers had finished their work. As the area is close to the railway lines, the deminers had to temporarily stop their action to let trains pass to avoid any jolts during the handling of the bomb.
The cleared bomb will be sublimated in a storage area and it will be destroyed on military land. Shortly before 1 p.m., traffic was able to resume.
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