Bomb found in Münster-Hiltrup: 750 residents safely evacuated!

Bomb found in Münster-Hiltrup: 750 residents safely evacuated!

On July 10, 2025, a 125 kilogram aircraft bomb from the Second World War was successfully defused in Münster-Hiltrup. The American bomb, which turned out to be a dud, was discovered in an open area on Im Dahl and Lechtenberger Busch streets. This defusing posed a significant challenge because the bomb was equipped with two detonators, which further increased the danger. Thanks to the excellent work of the fire department, the all-clear was given around 4 p.m. and the approximately 750 evacuated residents were able to return to their homes, as Tixio reports.

The evacuation of the population, which covered a safety radius of approximately 300 meters around the defusing site, became necessary to ensure the safety of everyone involved. In total, almost 30 people took advantage of the care center in the town hall during the exciting hours in which everything revolved around successful defusing. The closures in the area, including the railway line between Münster and Hamm and surrounding streets, were lifted after the measure was successfully completed.

Fight against the rubbish from the past

The defusal on Thursday was not the first incident of this kind. In May, seven bombs were defused at the same site after many suspicious points had been identified there. This shows how important regular examinations of suspected areas are. “In Germany there are an estimated 100,000 to 300,000 tons of unexploded bombs in the ground,” informs ARD Alpha. Around 5,000 of these explosive relics have to be cleared every year, which often involves considerable effort and danger. The on-site experts work with great care to identify and remove the ignition mechanisms.

These unexploded bombs mainly come from the air raids of the Second World War. The locations are specifically examined using aerial photographs and other historical documents. The inns and properties in the Münster area will continue to be monitored in the future, as another examination date is planned for the autumn. The city will provide information in good time to coordinate further measures.

Conclusion: Focus on security measures

The removal of unexploded ordnance is a real community task that affects everyone. The success rate when defusing these relics is always the focus - not only for the safety of citizens, but also for the integrity of the surrounding area. “It is a good sign that the defusing of the bomb went so smoothly,” said a fire department representative. The next time you search for unexploded bombs, whether in construction projects or agricultural work, everyone involved needs to be on their guard. Because as WDR reports, there are numerous points in the region where something similar could happen again, so keep your eyes open and take your steps carefully!