Cologne defuses WW2 bombs after 20,000 evacuated4 hours ago Share Save Gabriela Pomeroy BBC News Share SaveEPA Police cordoned off large areas of the cityAuthorities in the German city of Cologne have defused three unexploded World War Two bombs after the evacuation of more than 20,000 people. Cologne was subjected to particularly heavy bombing during WW2 and unexploded ordnance can still pose a danger. Germany's bomb disposal service was only able to begin the operation after all residents in the densely populated area were evacuated. Finding bombs from WW2 is not unusual in German cities such as Cologne and Berlin, but these bombs were particularly large. Residents were told to "stay calm", bring their ID and any essential medications, and to take care of their pets.