Thousands of people were ordered to leave their homes (Picture: News Agency Germany/Shutterstock)

Thousands of people have been evacuated in central Berlin after two unexploded World War II bombs were found – with one yet to be defused.

One of the bombs was found in the River Spree on Thursday,with German police sent door-to-door ordering around 7,500 people to leave their homes.

A 500-metre perimeter was put in place,with residents evacuated for the night.

Long queues formed around emergency shelters set up in Mitte town hall and a nearby school,with a subway line and several roads closed,and all river traffic halted.

Berlin Police have now confirmed that the bomb was a dud,and residents have been allowed to return to their homes after spending the night in shelters or with relatives.

A spokesperson said: ‘The World War II bomb discovered yesterday during construction work in Berlin-Mitte was located several metres under water and mud.

The World War II bomb after it was pulled from the River Spree (Picture: Michael Ukas/DPA/Cover Images)

‘Since such a find generally poses an immediate danger,a security perimeter had to be established as a precaution,and residents had to be evacuated for the night.

‘Only after the people had been brought to safety in this way could our specialist check it this morning using special equipment,and determine there is no danger from the dud.

‘The security perimeters have been lifted,everyone can return. Many thanks to everyone for their understanding and patience.’

The discovery was made only a day after another huge 100kg World War II bomb was found in the Spandau district on Wednesday.

The Spandau bomb is set to be defused today,with more than 12,000 people ordered out of the area by 8am local time on Friday.

There were long queues to access shelter at Mitte town hall (Picture: Michael Ukas/DPA/Cover Images)

There are more than 200 emergency personnel on the ground helping to evacuate the area before the defusing can begin.

Specialists will use a high-pressure water jet cutting system to remove the bomb’s detonator and defuse it.

A hospital,nursing home,elementary school and daycare centre are among the businesses impacted by the evacuation.

The hospital,Vivantes Klinikum Spandau,is under a partial evacuation with entry or exit or any emergency services suspended during the defusing.

A Berlin Police statement said: ‘A 100kg Russian World War II bomb was found during construction work in Hakenfelde on Wednesday morning.

‘Around 8.30am,it was announced that construction workers had discovered an unexploded bomb during excavation work on a construction site on Neuendorfer Straße.

Bei Bauarbeiten wurde gestern Vormittag in #Hakenfelde eine 100kg #Weltkriegsbombe gefunden. Diese soll morgen durch unsere Spezialisten der #Kriminaltechnik entschärft werden. Hierfür wird ein Sperrbereich bis zu 500m um den Fundort errichtet. Alle Menschen im Bereich,sind… pic.twitter.com/Sx2Y8WWxmI

— Polizei Berlin (@polizeiberlin) September 18,2025

‘Since the bomb posed no immediate danger,police forensic experts decided to postpone defusing the bomb until tomorrow [Friday].

‘The site where the bomb was found is currently cordoned off and is being guarded by police officers around the clock.

‘For security reasons,a restricted area of ​​up to 500metres has been established around the site.

‘A total of up to 12,400 people are affected by the evacuation measures.’

Got a story?