By Maren Wittge
The police couldn’t wait. Therefore, the residents had to leave their apartments and houses in the middle of the night because of a missile that was discovered at the S-Bahn station Buckower Chaussee (Marienfelde). After almost 17 hours, the mission was over and the projectile blew up.
World War II ammunition was discovered during construction work around 4 p.m. on Thursday. It was in the driveway of a Kaufland supermarket. The police then tweeted that the bomb “must be defused today”.
Explosives experts from the State Criminal Police Office came and examined the find.
The missile was found in a pit Photo: Sven Meissner
“The projectile was in a condition that did not allow the controlled detonation to wait,” says a police spokeswoman. The detonator was installed in such a way that the missile could not be defused in any other way, according to another spokesman.
A restricted area of initially 500 meters was therefore set up, later reduced to 300 meters because the bullet could be carefully transported a few meters away from the site of discovery.
“I was about to go shopping at Kaufland,” says industrial mechanic Nils M. (23). “Police officers then sent me out of the restricted area.”
Spachou G. (49), owner of a Greek delicatessen, was only able to return to her shop at 9 a.m Photo: Sven Meissner
Officials also went door to door to make sure everyone had left the area. A total of 56 people had to spend the night elsewhere. Including almost 20 residents of a senior flat share. “We transported the older people to the surrounding hospitals,” says a fire department spokesman.
Other residents found shelter in emergency accommodation on Marienfelder Allee, while others looked for a place to stay overnight. The S-Bahn didn’t run either, buses made detours. The area was cleared around 2 a.m.
“At 8.30 a.m. the missile was then blown up with explosives,” said the police spokesman.
Spachou G. (49), owner of the Greek delicatessen Kerkini: “At 9.10 a.m. I was allowed to go back to my shop and finally start my preparations.” Otherwise they always start around 7 a.m. “But there’s nothing you can do.”
“Thank you for your understanding,” the police tweeted after the operation.