Ostend ontmijningsdienst DOVO, the English bomb that fell was found on a wharf in Ostend, made harmless. Reports that mayor Bart Tommelein. The incident had 43 people temporarily evacuated.
According to police chief Carlo Smits was the springtuig of 250 kilos yesterday already encountered in excavation works along the Hendrik Baelskaai. “There was thought that the to one shell went without much danger. DOVO would the shell this morning in further excavation and bring it in, but then it became clear that it is a very different caliber was”, says Smits.
It was an English vliegtuigbom from the Second world War, of 250 pounds, of which the starter was intact.
Police, mayor, fire department and DOVO decided a perimeter of 500 meters in diameter, including some high-rise apartment buildings on the Henry Baelskaai and several companies. The inhabitants were by the fire brigade and the police for an evacuation. A Bus brought them over to the accommodation centre, Dunes and the Sea. There were about twenty persons transferred. Others decided to take short home search.
After all the evacuations, around 13.45 hours, could DOVO begin with the dismantling of the vliegtuigbom. “We have managed to get to the starter from the bomb run. Then we have that removed ignition controlled explosion. The bomb is filled with explosive, but can no longer explode,” says operatieleider Daniel-Third of DOVO. According to him, took the dismantling of a quarter of an hour, but were all the precautions necessary.
