Wildfires across Europe detonate forgotten World War bombs


Scorched landscapes across Europe have exposed a potentially lethal threat lurking underground.

Rusted bombs and mines from the First and Second World Wars are now endangering emergency crews responding to wildfires across the continent.

High heat has caused several weapons to explode in France, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands. In the Dutch province of Limburg, a bomb disposal team was called out to inspect woodland near the site of heavy 1944 combat threatened by flames.

Read more…
Source: Independent


Sign up for the Counter-IED Report Newsletters
The latest news and insights delivered right to your inbox


Related:

  • Ireland: Explosive device, cocaine and thousands of euro seized from Limerick halting site

    October 1, 2025

    An explosive device, cocaine, crack cocaine and €5,500 in cash was recovered as gardai swooped on a Traveller site in Limerick. As part of ongoing investigations into the activities of an organised criminal group, Gardaí from the Limerick Crime Unit, supported by multiple agencies and specialist units, conducted a planned operation at the Childers Road halting ...

  • Russia: Drone downed at Kursk-II Nuclear Power Plant construction site

    October 1, 2025

    Asuspected Ukrainian drone has been brought down over Russia’s Kursk NPP, regional governor Alexander Khinshtein reported. It fell on the construction site of the Kursk-II plant, which will replace the currently operating Kursk NPP comprising four ageing RBMK reactors (two of which are now closed) with four new units with VVER-TOI reactors. Units 1&2 are already ...

  • Ukraine: Demining units of the Security and Defence Forces have neutralized over 1 million explosive devices

    September 30, 2025

    Since the onset of the full-scale war, demining specialists of the Security and Defence Forces have neutralized more than 1 million explosive devices. As reported by the Main Directorate for Mine Action, Civil Protection and Environmental Safety, nearly 6,500 km² of land have been surveyed, and inspections have been carried out on 9,691 km of roads, ...

  • Ukrainian forces destroyed airborne Russian Mi-8 helicopter with FPV drone

    September 29, 2025

    Robert “Magyar” Brovdi, Commander of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces, has reported that Ukrainian forces have destroyed a Russian Mi-8 attack helicopter. Magyar on social media; 59th Separate Assault Brigade of Unmanned Systems named after Yakiv Handziuk Details: Brovdi said the Mi-28 helicopter was destroyed by operators of the 59th Brigade of the Unmanned Systems Forces using ...

  • Tracking the Invisible Threat: Persistent Explosive Residues in Raw and Drinking Water Bodies

    September 27, 2025

    This study provides a comprehensive nationwide assessment of explosive residues and their degradation products in French water resources and drinking water, including mainland and overseas territories. A total of 54 target compounds were selected based on historical usage, environmental persistence, and analytical feasibility. Between 2020 and 2022, water samples from nearly 300 sites—representing resources for 20–25% ...

  • UK: Live hand grenade and WW2 shell removed by Navy divers

    September 26, 2025

    A team of Royal Navy divers from HMNB Devonport disposed of a live grenade and a World War Two shell in two separate call-outs. The team first responded to a grenade found at the Cornwall Energy Centre in St Austell, confirmed to be a live British military grenade, on Wednesday. It was then urgently sent to ...

  • UK: Man in court over cash machine explosion plot

    September 26, 2025

    A man has been charged over an alleged plot to blow up a cash machine. The ATM, at Hedgeley Services in Powburn, Northumberland, was on fire when police arrived on 12 May. Kristopher Follos, 45, of Olivers Mill, Morpeth, appeared at North Tyneside Magistrates’ Court charged with conspiracy to steal, conspiracy to cause explosions, and ...

  • Libya Adopts First National Plan to Mitigate Chemical and Nuclear Risks with EU Support

    September 25, 2025

    Libya has adopted its first-ever national plan to reduce risks related to chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) materials. The development was announced by the EU Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (EU FPI). According to the announcement, the plan was developed with support from the European Union through its CBRN Centres of Excellence initiative. The objective ...

  • Norway: Police investigate explosion in central Oslo

    September 24, 2025

    Norwegian police said on Tuesday they were investigating a blast on a street in central Oslo and later conducted a controlled detonation of a second explosive device found on the site, adding that a suspect had been apprehended for questioning. There were no reports of injuries at the location, in the immediate vicinity of a university ...

  • UK: Bomb squad carried out controlled explosion in Watford

    September 22, 2025

    The bomb squad was called to Watford over a firework attached to a motorcycle, police have confirmed. The force attended Dad’s Garage by Paulo, between Vicarage Road and The Hornets, at 8.40am on Saturday (September 20) following reports of a suspicious device being found. Nearby residents and businesses were evacuated with a 100m cordon in place ...

  • Greece: Police investigate University of Patra bombing

    September 20, 2025

    Police investigations into the explosion that occurred on Friday morning at the University of Patra are underway. According to local media outlet Tempo24, unidentified individuals placed an improvised explosive device with a butane cylinder, which exploded, causing damage to the Geology Department. Read more… Source: Ekathimerini News Sign up for the Counter-IED Report Newsletters The latest news and insights delivered ...

  • Ukraine: Interior Ministry introducing innovative approach that almost halves mine clearance time

    September 20, 2025

    The Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs is implementing an innovative approach to mine clearance that will nearly halve the time it takes to clear areas, combining the use of technology with the professionalism of demining units, the head of the ministry, Ihor Klymenko, announced on Friday. “First, mechanized mine-clearing vehicles create special rectangular passages. Then, sappers ...

  • Polish missile likely destroyed house amid Russian drone incursion

    September 18, 2025

    Last week, Russian drones repeatedly violated Polish airspace during a major aerial attack on Ukraine, which Warsaw described as a provocation. The incident prompted Poland and its NATO allies to scramble fighter jets, and Poland said that the drones posing a direct threat were shot down that night. In an interview with private broadcaster TVN 24 ...

  • Ireland: Letter containing ‘anthrax’ sent to Dublin offices of Iona Institute

    September 16, 2025

    The Defence Forces’ Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit are examining a suspicious package sent to the Dublin City office of the Iona Institute. The package, which was addressed to the Iona Institute, was opened by the organisation’s CEO, David Quinn on Tuesday afternoon. The package contained a handwritten letter with Mr Quinn’s name on it, along ...

  • Cote d’Ivoire: EUSDI GoG boosts Ivorian Defense Against improvised explosives

    September 16, 2025

    The Spanish Canary Islands Command provides specialized training on the threat of improvised explosive devices in Cote d’Ivoire as part of the EU Security and Defence Inititiative in the Gulf of Guinea (EUSDI GoG). Far from home, under the demanding African sun, soldiers of Spain’s 16th Canary Islands Brigade carried out a mission that transcended military ...