Bomb in the Lokviertel: 11,000 Osnabrück residents have to be evacuated!

Bomb in the Lokviertel: 11,000 Osnabrück residents have to be evacuated!

In the early morning hours of June 17, 2025, Osnabrück city center and the neighboring districts of Schinkel and Fledder became the scene of a serious security incident. An unexploded bomb from the Second World War was discovered in the Lokviertel, which required a comprehensive evacuation of around 11,000 people. Residents were immediately asked to leave their apartments and houses to seek safety, while police set up road closures from 7 p.m., as [Hasepost](https://www.hasepost.de/bombenraeumung-im-lokviertel-11-000-menschen-in-osnabrueck-muessen-evakuiert- Werden-605651/) reported.

The affected areas included not only the city center, but also the Schinkel and Fledder districts. Around 6,500 households were affected. Over the course of the day, around 500 people gathered in the evacuation center that was set up in the Schinkel comprehensive school. The authorities are preparing for possible forced detention if the situation does not change. An evacuation of this magnitude poses major challenges for the emergency services, especially since there were already some unauthorized people in the evacuation area last time, which led to delays.

Defusing the bomb

The exact time of defusing remained uncertain, but it was scheduled for the evening. The aim was to eliminate the danger of the highly dangerous bomb, which is more than 50 years old. Such unexploded bombs often have to be defused on site because transport involves a high risk, as ARD Alpha explains. It is estimated that 100,000 to 300,000 tons of such bombs are still buried in the ground in Germany. Disarming requires maximum caution as the firing mechanisms can be very different.

The security forces had already made preparations several months ago in order to be able to act quickly in the event of a bomb being found. Every bomb discovery leads to the establishment of a safety radius, which in this case was at least one kilometer. The emergency services were on duty from 3 a.m. to secure the area and ensure a smooth evacuation.

past and present

The evacuation reminded many of the dramatic operations in the past. In Osnabrück, unexploded bombs have repeatedly been found and defused in recent years. A record was even set last November; seven bombs were defused in a single day, as [Informiert Osnabrück](https://informiert.osnabrueck.de/de/aktuelles/fuenf-entschaerfungen-zwei- Sprengungen-blindgaenger-unschaedlich-machen/) reported. This ongoing threat from the past highlights the importance of remaining vigilant.

Today, after the defusing, residents are allowed to return. It turns out that cooperation between police, fire departments, volunteers and numerous organizations is crucial. Around 1,000 emergency services were mobilized to ensure the safety of everyone affected. The quick processing and repatriation of residents after such operations is always a positive sign that shows that the community sticks together!

Further information on the situation and the course of events can be found on the city of Osnabrück's live information page: www.osnabrueck.de/warnings.