WWII Bomb Discovery Near Paris’ Gare du Nord Causes Travel Chaos
A World War II bomb found near Paris’ Gare du Nord train station caused major travel disruptions on Friday, leading to canceled trains, evacuations, and road closures. The 500kg bomb, including 200kg of explosives, was discovered by construction workers in Saint-Denis, about 2.5km from the station. French authorities quickly set up a security perimeter and evacuated homes within a 500-meter radius, while bomb disposal teams worked to neutralize the threat.
Eurostar canceled all trains to and from Paris, affecting travel to London, Brussels, and Amsterdam. A spokesperson for France’s national rail company SNCF described the bomb as “really huge” and a serious safety risk. Passengers at Gare du Nord were left scrambling for alternative routes, with some opting to travel through Lille or seek refunds.
Local rail services were also severely impacted, with Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot warning that trains would not resume until late afternoon at the earliest. Authorities briefly shut a section of the A1 motorway and the Paris périphérique near Porte de la Chapelle, adding to the chaos. Saint-Denis officials confirmed that six schools and a care facility were within the evacuation zone but not at risk, as they did not have windows facing the area.
At St Pancras station in London, queues formed early as passengers tried to rebook travel. Some opted for alternative routes, like taking a train to Lille and then a three-hour bus ride to Paris. Otherswere left stranded.
Authorities are still working to clear the site, with no immediate timeline for when full train services will resume. Eurostar assured passengers they could exchange tickets for free and apologized for the disruption.
