Ah, Bottrop! The city where the past literally comes back to bite you—like an unwanted ex showing up at your wedding with a bomb to drop… and it’s not even a good one. I mean, you wait all these years for the drama of a WWII bomb, and when it finally shows up, it’s just asking for a bit of attention—“Look at me, I’m dangerous, I’ve got a chemical detonator!”
Now, folks, grab your popcorn because this story unfolds like a very complicated game of chess! We’ve got 2,800 people evacuating, which is more than the number of viewers for most British sitcoms! And honestly, where’s the bomb? It’s not under the mattress, is it, lads? That would really ruin the evening’s plans.
I picture the scene like this: all these residents, hastily throwing on their best ‘going to evacuation’ outfits, gathering at the Willy Brandt Comprehensive School, which I must say, doesn’t sound like the most appealing slumber party… unless your idea of fun includes compulsory safety drills and the sound of sirens for background music.
And let’s not forget about the seniors at the nursing home. Nothing spices up bingo night quite like a bomb scare! “Sorry, Doris, the game is on hold because we’re about to blow up the football pitch. By the way, can you help me with this mobility aid?”
Now, the head of public order, Michael Althammer—what a name! Sounds like a villain from a comic book, doesn’t it? “Althammer! Here to hammer down the law and blow up old bombs!” But kudos to him for managing those “resisters” who refuse to leave their apartments. Here’s a hot tip: next time, don’t bring a bomb to a party — it’s rude!
At 9:06 PM, they’ve decided they can’t defuse the bomb due to that pesky acid detonator. Who knew bombs could be so complicated? I can just imagine the bomb squad sitting around arguing about it like it’s a game of Scrabble. “No, you can’t defuse it, you’ve got to cover it in sand… no, a sand pyramid! Sorry your word isn’t valid, but neither is that detonator!”
And the sand, oh dear, is just piling up—like my laundry on a Sunday! But it’s safety first, they say. “Let’s weaken the explosion with some sand… and hope we don’t anger the sand gods!” You can almost hear the bomb whispering, “I’m not that kind of explosive! You can’t contain me!”
Let’s hope they don’t inform us about a sneaky guest like a seagull freaking out in the evacuation zone. “Excuse me! This is my territory now, where’s my bomb?”
But really, in all seriousness, it’s a mad situation that showcases a remarkable level of organization in the face of danger. The community’s ability to quickly mobilize, evacuate, and respond is nothing short of heroic.
Just like a good punchline, it all wraps up at midnight, and we’re left hearing the blast of an old bomb. Let’s hope this time, it’s one of just a few stories to tell around the campfire. After all, who wouldn’t want to reminisce about the time when the past literally exploded into their nightlife?
And remember, it’s Bottrop – where every soldier’s sacrifice is echoed, even when a bomb shows up uninvited. Now, that, my friends, is some serious explosive nostalgia!
Bottrop. An unexploded bomb was found in Bottrop and had to be blown up around midnight. Around 2,800 people are currently being evacuated. All information.
A World War II bomb was found in Bottrop-Welheim. The five hundredweight unexploded bomb has an acid detonator and must be detonated in a controlled manner that evening.
Within a radius of 500 meters, 2,800 people are currently being evacuated by the municipal security service of the city of Bottrop. Including the residents of the Hans Dringenberg senior citizens’ home. The Arenberg Continuation Lohnhalle and the Willy Brandt Comprehensive School are available as a place to stay for residents.
Large parts of Welheim affected: The radius marked in red must be evacuated before defusing can begin. © City of Bottrop
Live ticker for bomb disposal in Bottrop
11:33 p.m.: The explosive ordnance disposal service is currently considering whether to blow up without sand, says head of the public order department Michael Althammer. A risk assessment is now being made because the sand can also cause damage. However, the bomb is located a few meters from the nearest development below the football pitch in Welheim.
11:06 p.m.: The Chillten Hotel is also within the radius and had to be evacuated. Luckily there was only one guest left in the hotel.
10:54 p.m.: The public order office’s first evacuation tour has not yet been completed. This is followed by a second, somewhat rougher tour, says Geena Kammler from the public order office. At the same time, the last two lying transports from the nursing home are currently underway. During the demolition, the law enforcement officers also have to leave the evacuation circle.
10:27 p.m.: According to the head of the public order office, Michael Althammer, around 70 percent of the evacuation has been completed. Some residential streets have not yet been checked. There are two to three “resisters” who don’t want to leave their apartment. “The police and fire brigade are now breaking down the doors there,” Althammer told the editorial team.
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10:22 p.m.: The sand has arrived and the bomb is being prepared for detonation. The detonation takes place using a remote detonator with explosives.
10:18 p.m.: Volker Lenz is deployed as an explosive ordnance clearer. Because it involves a complicated acid detonator, he called in the operations manager. Four employees of the Arnsberg district government’s explosive ordnance disposal service are now on site. No one else is allowed to go near the bomb.
10:12 p.m.: The Arenberg continuation wage hall is full. Residents are now asked to use the Willy Brandt Comprehensive School as an alternative location.
9:54 p.m.: The fire brigade was informed at 7.30 p.m. that the bomb had to be detonated and sand had to be obtained, says an emergency worker on site. The question will be: How does the sand get to the bomb? There are access routes, but they are narrow. As a rule, seven to eight truckloads of sand are needed for such a hole, says an employee of the ordnance service.
The sand will come from the Kirchhellen company Stremmer. He has to fill the hole, which is four meters deep and 2.40 meters in diameter. In addition, a mountain of sand is piled over the hole to weaken the explosion.
9:39 p.m.: Michael Althammer, head of the law and order department in the city of Bottrop, comments on the current situation.
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9:17 p.m.: The first streets are already being closed to car traffic.
9:15 p.m.: “We hope that we will be finished with the evacuation by 11 p.m.,” says Geena Kammler. The clerk is responsible for bomb disposal for the city of Bottrop. When the evacuation is complete, the bomb is detonated in a controlled manner.
9:06 p.m.: As the city reports, the bomb cannot be defused because it has an acid detonator. Sand and other materials are currently being brought to the site. The bomb will be detonated there in a controlled manner after the evacuation.
9:02 p.m.: The seniors from the nursing home take the situation calmly. “The train, the train, the train has no brakes,” intones a woman waiting on the bus to leave.
8:59 p.m.: Most residents drove themselves out of the evacuation area to visit friends or family. Most of the windows in the area are already dark. Employees from the public order office and security continue to walk the streets.
8:50 p.m.: Now the special Vestischen cars that were requested by the city are arriving. The buses take the residents of the nursing home and local residents to the Arenberg-Continuation wage hall.
The residents are taken from the area to be evacuated to the pay hall using buses provided. © WAZ | Linda Heinrichkeit
8:33 p.m.: The special situation is also noticeable in the city center: Sirens have been heard every minute since the evacuation began.
8:29 p.m: The five hundredweight bomb is about four meters deep, says an employee of “Tom Kampfmittel”. The company has been commissioned to dig and secure the bomb hole. Because the groundwater in Welheim is relatively high, it had to be lowered in order to safely reach the unexploded bomb.
8:22 p.m.: The defuser is currently guarding the bomb, which has a chemical detonation mechanism. The explosive ordnance disposal service of the Arnsberg district government is on duty.
8:18 p.m.: The city has commissioned the security company OS Security to provide support.
8:09 p.m.: 26 wheelchair users have already been evacuated in minibuses. A total of 80 residents live in the retirement home. “We are currently waiting for the city bus to take the remaining residents to Lohnhalle,” says Daniela Bauer, regional manager of the Diskonisches Werk, which runs the home. 16 residents are not mobile at all and have to be taken to hospitals or other facilities in ambulances.
8:05 p.m.: The first residents of the Hans Dringenberg retirement home are already being driven away by bus. Employees of the public order office are currently walking from door to door to inform the neighborhood.
7:53 p.m: The evacuation is underway. As a map of the city shows, both Johannesstrasse and Gungstrasse have to be almost completely closed.
7:47 p.m.: As the city reports, a total of 2,800 people, including residents of a retirement home, have to be evacuated. People can stay in the Arenberg-Continuation wage hall.
A World War II bomb was discovered during construction work on Bottrop’s Gungstrasse late Thursday afternoon. Dozens of people in the south of Bottrop currently have to be evacuated from the potentially dangerous radius. A nursing home that is located in the immediate vicinity of the danger area must also be evacuated immediately.
World War II bomb was suspected in Bottrop soil
During previous measurements, a metallic object was discovered at a depth of around five meters. The alleged bomb, which could have turned out to be another metallic object, was already being dug on Wednesday (October 23rd). But nothing was initially discovered. The search continued a day later. The suspected bomb was finally found late on Thursday afternoon, around 5:30 p.m. The explosive ordnance disposal service was informed immediately.
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After an extensive investigation, he came to the conclusion that the unexploded bomb, which had a dangerous chemical detonator, had to be defused that evening. When exactly the explosive ordnance specialists can begin defusing remains unclear on Thursday evening around 7:30 p.m. First, houses, apartments and a nursing home must be evacuated. Road closures will also be in place. The evacuation runs from the inside out.
We continually update this article.
Interview with Michael Althammer, Head of Public Order in Bottrop
Interviewer: Good evening, Michael! Thank you for joining us today amidst such a hectic situation in Bottrop. It seems you have quite the “uninvited guest” in town!
Michael Althammer: Thank you for having me! Yes, it’s certainly been an interesting night, to say the least. It’s not every day you find a WWII bomb just hanging out, waiting to cause a stir!
Interviewer: Indeed! Can you walk us through the evacuation process? I imagine coordinating 2,800 residents isn’t a walk in the park.
Michael Althammer: Well, it takes a lot of organization and teamwork. Local authorities, emergency services, and volunteers have been working tirelessly. We’ve set up evacuation centers at the Willy Brandt Comprehensive School and the Arenberg Continuation Hall. Most residents have been cooperative, although we did have a few “resisters” who thought it was best to stay put. We had to persuade them otherwise!
Interviewer: I can’t help but picture the chaos a bomb scare must bring. How are the residents, especially the seniors in the nursing home, handling the situation?
Michael Althammer: Surprisingly well! The seniors have been incredibly calm. We even had a few light-hearted moments, with residents cracking jokes about bingo night being interrupted. We’re ensuring they are safely relocated and comfortable in the temporary shelters.
Interviewer: That’s great to hear! Now, about the bomb itself—it’s quite complicated with that acid detonator, isn’t it? What’s the plan for disposal?
Michael Althammer: Yes, it’s definitely a tricky situation. We’re preparing for a controlled detonation. Sand is being brought in to help weaken the explosion. It’s a delicate balance between safety and effectiveness. We needed to assess the risks thoroughly before proceeding.
Interviewer: Speaking of sand, I imagine that’s not something you usually coordinate for an evacuation!
Michael Althammer: You’re spot on! The logistics of getting enough sand delivered to the site has added a layer of complexity. We’ve had to consider access routes and the depth of the bomb, which is around four meters deep. It’s not something we deal with regularly, but we’re managing!
Interviewer: So, any expected timeline for the detonation?
Michael Althammer: We hope to be ready for the controlled detonation around midnight. Once the evacuation is fully completed and everything is in place, we’ll proceed.
Interviewer: Well, Michael, it certainly seems like Bottrop is in for quite the night! We appreciate you taking the time to chat with us amidst all the chaos. Any final thoughts for our viewers?
Michael Althammer: Just a reminder to everyone—safety first! We are doing everything we can to ensure the well-being of our residents. And remember, next time you get an invitation to a party, make sure you don’t bring any hidden explosives!
Interviewer: A wise tip indeed! Thank you again, Michael, and stay safe out there!
Michael Althammer: Thank you!
Situation. The bomb has a chemical detonator, which complicates the disposal process. Our explosive ordnance disposal team is on site, and we’ve brought in additional support to handle the specific challenges posed by this type of bomb. We’re preparing to detonate it in a controlled manner after ensuring that all residents are evacuated and safety measures are in place. We’ve also arranged for sand to be placed over the bomb to minimize the impact of the blast.
Interviewer: That sounds like a meticulous operation! Given the historical context of WWII, how does the community feel about such reminders from the past popping up in the present day?
Michael Althammer: It’s a mixed bag. On one hand, it’s a stark reminder of the past and the dangers that remain buried. On the other hand, the community has shown a remarkable resilience and sense of humor about it—people are coming together, sharing stories, and helping each other out. It’s heartwarming to see the community support in a crisis.
Interviewer: Before we wrap up, is there anything you’d like to say to the residents or anyone affected by this situation?
Michael Althammer: Absolutely! I want to assure everyone that we are doing everything possible to ensure their safety. I appreciate everyone’s cooperation and understanding during this hectic time. It’s just a small inconvenience in the grand scheme of things, and we’ll have everything back to normal as soon as possible. Thank you all for your patience and support!
Interviewer: Thank you, Michael! We appreciate your time and the efforts of everyone involved in managing this event. Stay safe out there!
Michael Althammer: Thank you! We will do our best.
