Unexploded WWII-era bomb found in Thames River; London City Airport shut down

A view of London Bridge over the Thames River on June 4, 2017. On Sunday, an unexploded WWII-era bomb was found in the Thames, causing authorities to shut down the nearby London City Airport. File Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI

Feb. 12 (UPI) — London City Airport was shut down Sunday after a World War II-era bomb was found nearby in the Thames River.

The unexploded bomb was found during planned development procedures at the King George V docks. After the bomb was located, Metropolitan Police set up a 214-meter exclusion zone as a precaution.

“Overnight, officers have been helping to evacuate properties within the exclusion zone and police are working with the local authority to provide residents with temporary emergency accommodation and the appropriate support,” police said in a statement.

Metropolitan Police and the Royal Navy are working together to remove the bomb from its location.

The newfound bomb is expected to cause more cancellations on Monday.

London City Airport CEO Robert Sinclair said all flights in and out of London City on Monday are cancelled.

“I urge any passengers due to fly today not to come to the airport and to contact their airline for further information,” Sinclair said via Twitter.

London isn’t the only major city to find a WWII-era bomb in recent days.

Last month, construction workers in Hong Kong unearthed two unexploded U.S. bombs that were likely dropped some time between 1941 and 1945.

Both bombs were discovered in heavily populated areas, causing thousands of people to be evacuated from the area until the explosives were removed.

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