Leuven station evacuated after WWII bomb find

After the discovery of an unexploded Second World War bomb yesterday during excavation works  along the Eenmeilaan in Kessel-Lo, Leuven’s train station and station square were evacuated, report Belgian rail infrastructure manager Infrabel, the Leuven police and Belgian rail company SNCB.

From 14:30, the Leuven station and Martelarenplein in front of it were fully evacuated and all train traffic was brought to a halt in order to allow for the Demining Service of the Belgian Defence (Dovo) to dismantle the bomb.

Leuven police also carried out the evacuation of homes within an 800-metre radius around the site of the find. The dismantling of the bomb - a British thousand-pounder (453.6kg) - started yesterday at 15.00.

The Leuven station was heavily bombed during the Second World War, so historians are not surprised by the discovery.