Removal of an American World War II bomb in Belgrade

In a delicate security and military operation, Serbian police announced the successful removal of a massive 470-kilogram World War II-era aerial bomb from a construction site in the heart of Belgrade. Authorities mobilized their specialized units to handle the explosive device, which had remained buried underground for decades, posing a significant threat to the area's residents.

Details of the bomb and the historical context of the bombing

Official reports identified the bomb as an American-made AN-M44. This bomb dates back to 1944, a critical period in European history, particularly for Serbia. That year, Allied forces conducted a series of intensive air raids on Belgrade, targeting strategic sites and supply lines of the Nazi German occupation in preparation for liberating the city. While the objective was to expel the invaders, these raids left behind a significant number of unexploded bombs, remaining silent and dangerous reminders of that bloody era.

Safety measures and securing the population

Given the seriousness of the situation and the sensitive location of the bomb in the middle of a densely populated residential area and near a shopping center, Serbian police took strict precautionary measures. Prior to the removal operation, the area underwent a thorough engineering survey to ensure completely safe conditions for both the bomb disposal teams and the residents.

Authorities immediately ordered residents of nearby buildings to temporarily evacuate their homes and to move their vehicles from the vicinity to facilitate the movement of heavy machinery used to transport the explosives. The bomb was successfully transported to a military training center located 180 kilometers from the capital, where bomb disposal experts will safely dismantle and destroy it in the coming days.

The legacy of wars buried beneath Belgrade

This incident is not unique in Serbia, a country that has witnessed numerous conflicts throughout the last century. Construction and excavation projects in the capital frequently lead to the discovery of dangerous war remnants. Experts point out that European cities that suffered heavy bombardment still hold thousands of tons of unexploded ordnance, posing ongoing security and engineering challenges.

In recent years, several similar cases have been dealt with. In September 2024, a 100-year-old artillery shell weighing approximately 300 kilograms was recovered from a construction site near the Serbian parliament. Earlier this year, a large bomb left over from the 1999 NATO bombing campaign was found in southern Serbia. And in 2021, another World War II-era bomb weighing 242 kilograms was removed from a suburb of Belgrade, underscoring that the issue of unexploded ordnance remains an open one and requires constant vigilance.