A World War II-era bomb discovered on railway tracks near Paris’ busiest terminal, Gare du Nord, has caused significant disruption to train services. The bomb was uncovered early Friday morning (around 4 a.m.) during routine maintenance work in the suburb of Saint-Denis, located just 1.5 miles (2.5 km) from the station.
The unexploded device was identified as a WWII bomb by workers conducting earth-moving operations. As a result, all rail traffic to Gare du Nord, including Eurostar services from London, was temporarily suspended while French authorities worked to neutralize the threat.
According to the French national rail company, SNCF, the discovery is part of an ongoing issue in France, where unexploded ordnance from the World Wars is regularly found, but this incident is especially rare due to the high population density surrounding the location.
Minesweepers were immediately dispatched to the site to safely remove the device. Speaking to French radio, French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot reassured the public, stating that “there’s nothing to be afraid of, but we must follow strict procedures.” He also confirmed that a large security perimeter had been established and that efforts were underway to clear the site as quickly as possible.
Although the bomb threat led to massive delays, some train services will resume in the afternoon after the bomb might have been successfully dealt with. Eurostar, which operates trains between London and Paris, advised passengers to rebook their tickets for future travel, while regional French trains departing from Gare du Nord were rerouted to Gare de Lyon.
Regional services in northern France were expected to restart by mid-afternoon, pending clearance from authorities. Travelers with flights to Charles de Gaulle Airport were advised to use alternative transportation, such as buses from Opéra, due to the disruption.
This incident highlights the continued risks posed by unexploded wartime devices, which are occasionally uncovered across France, despite being rare in urban areas like Paris.
Paris, Gare du Nord Station on Wikimedia by Ulrich Oestringer
