Unexploded WWII bomb causes massive disruption, cancelling trains in and out of France
Commuter traffic at one of France's busiest train stations came to a complete halt Friday morning after workers discovered an unexploded World War II bomb under the tracks north of Paris' Gare du Nord.
Commuter traffic at one of France's busiest train stations came to a complete halt Friday morning after workers discovered an unexploded World War II bomb under the tracks north of Paris' Gare du Nord.
French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot told broadcaster Sud Radio that travel throughout the day was expected to be “strongly disrupted,” urging travelers to postpone their trips.
He added that there was “no fear” or risk of explosion, stressing that procedures were in place for defusing and removing such bombs.
The incident disrupted all train services, including local metros, commuter rails, and national and international train services.
Workers found the World War II bomb under the tracks about a mile and a half north of Paris' Gare du Nord station.Geoffroy Van Der Hasselt / AFP via Getty ImagesEurostar confirmed to NBC News that it had canceled all trains to and from Paris, including those to London, Brussels and Amsterdam, until noon local time (6 a.m. ET), adding that traffic would resume once the police had completed its “mine clearance operations” and safely disposed of the bomb.The European train operator encouraged all passengers to travel on another day, later adding that they could exchange their tickets for free to travel at a different time or date in the same travel class.
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