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:
- Ukraine: Dog teams trained in landmine detection deploy in Mykolaiv Oblast
April 23, 2025
As spring arrives in Mykolaiv Oblast, Ukraine, four teams of highly trained dogs, and their handlers, have been deployed to help detect landmines and explosive ordnance (EO). The teams are working in areas that were heavily shelled between spring and autumn 2022. A team of EO experts works with the dogs and their handlers to investigate ...
- Russia: Four people hurt in blast at munitions depot in Vladimir Region
April 22, 2025
Four people were hurt as a result of an explosion at a munitions depot in the Vladimir Region’s Kirzhach district, the region’s governor, Alexander Avdeyev, said. “Luckily, no one died in the incident, but four people were hurt,” he wrote on his Telegram channel, adding that three of them were taken two hospitals. They are in ...
- German police raid home of teenage boy suspected of making highly toxic warfare agent
April 18, 2025
Police in Germany have raided the home of a teenage boy suspected of making and storing ricin, a highly toxic and deadly biological warfare agent. The 16-year-old is accused of producing “several vials” containing a mixture of ricin and aconitine, another potent plant toxin, in a makeshift laboratory in the attic of his family home in ...
- Russian sappers destroy more than 185,000 mines, explosive items in Kursk Region
April 15, 2025
Russian sappers have discovered and destroyed over 185,000 mines and explosive objects in the Kursk Region, the regional authorities said on their Telegram channel. “Currently, Russian sappers have detected and neutralized 185,135 mines and explosive objects in the Kursk Region,” the post states. Additionally, it was reported that more than 675 kilometers of roads and 26,000 ...
- Ireland: Bomb team respond to device in Limerick City
April 15, 2025
Gardaí in Limerick were alerted to a device at a residential property in Prospect at approximately 2:25am on Tuesday, 15th April, 2025. A cordon was established and neighbouring properties were evacuated. An Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team removed an improvised device containing an accelerant for further examination. Read more… Source: Live95FM News Sign up for Counter-IED Report Newsletter The ...
- UK: Controlled explosion carried out on Portobello beach
April 15, 2025
A cordon was put in place near the junction of King’s Road and King’s Place. At that time officers advised local residents to remain in their homes and the public were advised to avoid the area. The item was subsequently found to be an unexploded wartime munition. A controlled explosion was carried out and officers said ...
- France: Prisons targeted with gunfire and arson over a new anti-drug crackdown
April 15, 2025
French prosecutors said Tuesday they have opened an investigation alleging terrorist conspiracy and attempted murder after several prisons were targeted in incidents that included gunfire and arson. Top officials described the attacks as a response to renewed government efforts to fight drug trafficking. Overnight Monday to Tuesday, an automatic weapon was fired at the main entrance ...
- Greece: Homemade explosive device detonates outside grill house in Patissia
April 14, 2025
A homemade explosive device detonated outside a grill house in the Athens neighborhood of Patissia in the early hours of Monday. No injuries were reported, but the blast caused damage to the storefront. Police officers who responded to the scene discovered remnants of a plastic bottle containing flammable liquid, along with fragments of a firecracker, indicating ...
- Sweden: Suspected explosion caused car fires in Malmö
April 13, 2025
A suspected detonation occurred in a car in Malmö on Sunday night. When police arrived at the scene, the car was on fire, but the damage to the car makes it looks like there was an explosion. Another car was destroyed in the fire. The site is now cordoned off for technical examination. The police are ...
- Ireland: Gardaí discover explosive device after shots fired at house in Limerick
April 13, 2025
Gardaí investigating a suspected firebombing of a car in Limerick on Sunday morning, discovered a suspect explosive device near the vehicle and were informed by residents of a nearby house that gunshots were fired at the property causing damage. Gardaí are investigating whether or not the incidents, which occurred at Ballinacurra Weston, around 2 am, Sunday, ...
- UK: Bomb squad removed ‘unexploded device’ from house in Hartlepool
April 13, 2025
Residents in Milton Road, Hartlepool, were urged to either “evacuate their property or to remain inside and away from the windows” after the alarm was raised on Saturday afternoon. Hartlepool Police said in an updated statement on Saturday evening: “Shortly before 1pm on Saturday, 12 April, police received a report of a suspected World War Two ...
- Ireland: Explosive device In Wexford made safe
April 12, 2025
A man has been arrested after a suspicious device was found at a home in Wexford town. The Army bomb disposal unit was called to the scene following the discovery at about 7 o’clock yesterday evening. A specialist team examined the device and “made it safe” – and a cordon has since been lifted. A man, ...
- Lithuania pledges additional EUR 30 mln for military support to Ukraine at Ramstein
April 12, 2025
Lithuanian Minister of National Defence Dovilė Šakalienė announced new contributions for military aid to Ukrainians at the 27th meeting of the Contact Group on Ukraine’s Defence in the Ramstein format in Brussels. “Lithuania pledged additional EUR 30 million contribution to Ukraine at Rammstein meeting today. In total, EUR 110 million pledged in 2025, aiming for EUR ...
- Greece: Explosion outside the Hellenic Train offices in Athens
April 12, 2025
Video of the moment of the explosion outside the offices of Hellenic Train on Syngrou Avenue is brought to light by protothema.gr. In the visual material the big flash was recorded exactly at the moment when the explosive device was activated, which left behind minor material damage. At the same time, a photographic document of the ...
- Europol: AK rifles and grenades seized as firearms trafficking route into France dismantled
April 11, 2025
Seven suspects have been arrested in connection with the gang, which is believed to have sourced high-powered weapons from illegal markets in the Western Balkans and trafficked them into France for onward distribution. The joint operation – supported by Europol and Eurojust – has taken down the full supply chain behind the trafficking route, from source ...