Cologne in alarm mood: Huge evacuation due to bomb discovery!

Cologne in alarm mood: Huge evacuation due to bomb discovery!

On June 4, 2025, the citizens of Cologne were held in suspense by a dramatic situation: the discovery of several World War II bombs near the Lanxess Arena led to the largest evacuation since the end of the Second World War. After the discoveries on June 2, 2025, when three American unexploded bombs - two 20 quintal bombs and one 10 quintal bomb - were discovered during construction work in Deutz, the city launched a comprehensive evacuation measure. Over 20,000 people were asked to evacuate their homes and workplaces, which resulted in an evacuation radius of around 1,000 meters around the site. The affected facilities included 58 hotels, 9 schools and daycare centers, the Eduardus Hospital, two geriatric care facilities and RTL with its TV studios. The Cologne Messe/Deutz train station and parts of the banks of the Rhine in Deutz were also affected.

The evacuation, which began at 8 a.m. on June 4, also included the closure of the important Rhine bridges: Severins, Hohenzollern and Deutzer Bridges. Rail traffic was stopped on a large scale, which led to long-distance traffic being disrupted and diversions being made. In addition, the North Rhine-Westphalia explosive ordnance disposal service warned that around 2,000 World War II bombs are discovered in North Rhine-Westphalia every year and Cologne is often affected. A total of 1,986 bombs were found in the city in 2023 alone. With these numbers in mind, the city administration decided to take mitigation measures, which were successfully completed on the same day at 7:19 p.m.

Teddy Teclebrhan's appearance postponed

One of the numerous events that had to be canceled due to the evacuation was the planned appearance by comedian Teddy Teclebrhan in Cologne's Lanxess Arena. He was supposed to perform his show “Teddy 2025” on June 4th, but circumstances forced his cancellation. The new date for the show is now June 8, 2025, with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. and starting at 7:00 p.m. Fans who have already bought tickets can be happy: they remain valid for the alternative date and returns are also possible. The artist's future performances are also planned for June 6th to 7th, 2025 in Cologne, where he will offer a combination of comedy, music, dance and social cabaret.

The situation surrounding the discovery of the bomb not only affected private events, but also public events. Around 15 couples who were planning weddings in the city center found a new date in the Porz district. RTL Deutschland relocated its live broadcasts to Berlin while employees worked in the mobile office. Numerous museums and institutions, including the Museum Ludwig and the Wallraf-Richartz Museum, also had to close.

In order to offer citizens support during this critical situation, the city set up contact points, including exhibition hall 10.1 and the Humboldtstrasse vocational college, although pets were not allowed. A citizen hotline provided important information about the situation. Through the reporting on WDR television, the people of Cologne were informed about all developments regarding evacuation and defusing.

The dramatic events of the last few days make it clear once again that Cologne is still confronted with the remnants of its history today. The city administration and the experts from the explosive ordnance disposal service showed an impressive hand in this situation and ensured that all citizens were safe.