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| Cologne evacuates thousands so WW2 bombs can be diffused | Cologne evacuates thousands so WW2 bombs can be diffused |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Police cordoned off large areas of the city of Cologne to enable a safe bomb defusal exercise | |
| The German city of Cologne is evacuating some 20,500 people from a large area in the city centre so experts can defuse three unexploded bombs from World War Two. | The German city of Cologne is evacuating some 20,500 people from a large area in the city centre so experts can defuse three unexploded bombs from World War Two. |
| The American bombs were discovered on Monday in a shipyard in the Deutz neighbourhood. | The American bombs were discovered on Monday in a shipyard in the Deutz neighbourhood. |
| Unexploded bombs can still pose a danger and the city has sealed off the zone within a 1,000m (3280ft) radius, in what it described as "the largest operation since the end of WW2". | Unexploded bombs can still pose a danger and the city has sealed off the zone within a 1,000m (3280ft) radius, in what it described as "the largest operation since the end of WW2". |
| Homes, shops, hotels and schools have been told to evacuate, as well as a large hospital and major train station. | Homes, shops, hotels and schools have been told to evacuate, as well as a large hospital and major train station. |
| "If you refuse, we will escort you from your home - if necessary by force - along with the police," the authorities said. | "If you refuse, we will escort you from your home - if necessary by force - along with the police," the authorities said. |
| Residents were told if they refused to leave their homes after the evacuation began they could face expensive fines. | Residents were told if they refused to leave their homes after the evacuation began they could face expensive fines. |
| Some intensive care patients were helped out in ambulances from the Eduardus Hospital. | Some intensive care patients were helped out in ambulances from the Eduardus Hospital. |
| The country's bomb disposal service plans to diffuse the ten-tonne (10,000kg) and 20-tonne (20,000kg) bombs on Wednesday but it won't be possible to do so until all residents in the area leave for their own safety, the city said. | The country's bomb disposal service plans to diffuse the ten-tonne (10,000kg) and 20-tonne (20,000kg) bombs on Wednesday but it won't be possible to do so until all residents in the area leave for their own safety, the city said. |
| The evacuation in the Old Town and Deutz neighbourhoods began with officials going door to door to tell people they must leave their homes. | |
| Many of the city's usually bustling streets were eerily deserted as shops, restaurants and businesses were told to stop operating during the day. | |
| Cultural institutions including the Philharmonic Hall and many museums have been affected, as well as government buildings, 58 hotels, and nine schools. | Cultural institutions including the Philharmonic Hall and many museums have been affected, as well as government buildings, 58 hotels, and nine schools. |
| Transport was severely disrupted, with all roads are closed in the area, many trains cancelled and the Messe/Deutz train station was closed from 08:00 local time (07:00BST). | Transport was severely disrupted, with all roads are closed in the area, many trains cancelled and the Messe/Deutz train station was closed from 08:00 local time (07:00BST). |
| The authorities have set up two drop-in centres for people who don't have anywhere to go during the evacuation period. | The authorities have set up two drop-in centres for people who don't have anywhere to go during the evacuation period. |
| Residents were told to "stay calm", bring their ID and any essential medications, and to take care of their pets. | Residents were told to "stay calm", bring their ID and any essential medications, and to take care of their pets. |
| Cologne Bonn Airport said flights would continue as usual but travelling to the airport by train or road may be difficult. | Cologne Bonn Airport said flights would continue as usual but travelling to the airport by train or road may be difficult. |
| For some people, the evacuation was more than a little inconvenient. Fifteen couples were scheduled to get married at Cologne's historic town hall but the ceremonies were relocated to a location in another part of the city, local media reported. |