World War II Bomb Defused at Brussels Airport

World War II Bomb Defused at Brussels Airport

Bomb disposal experts on Saturday defused a Second World War shell found during building work at Brussels’ international airport.

According to officials, the shell was discovered during excavation work on part of the apron located “at a safe distance” from the terminal buildings.

The airport statement meant there was no danger to passengers and no disruption to flights following the discovery and eventual neutralisation.

It is understood that construction work was halted and a 100-metre (yards) safety perimeter put in place when the shell was found before the Belgian military bomb disposal squad, known by the acronym DOVO, was called in to neutralise the device overnight.

“DOVO was able to dismantle the shell without having to detonate it. Brussels Airport wishes to thank DOVO and all services and partners involved for the good collaboration,” the statement read.

Millions of shells and other munitions fell in the European country during the First and Second World Wars and DOVO is regularly called out to deal with such unexploded ordnance.