# Huge unexploded World War II-era bomb found in crowded Paris residential area

Bomb found near train tracks leading to Gare du Nord, Europe's busiest rail station

## By  at 

Published: March 7, 2025 9:17am EST  
Updated: March 7, 2025 12:17pm EST

A half-ton  found near train tracks in a crowded residential area just outside of Paris unleashed travel chaos across the region Friday, prompting disruptions at Europe's busiest rail station and closures of major roads leading into the French capital.

The unexploded bomb was found overnight by workers doing earthmoving activity near the tracks in the Seine-Saint-Denis area north of the city, according to French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot.

Bomb disposal experts were called to the scene, locals were evacuated, and "a quite large" security perimeter was set up around the operation, he added.

"We’re delighted and relieved that all this has come to an end," Tabarot later said.





This photo provided by the Paris Police Prefecture shows an unexploded World War II-era bomb that caused transportation chaos in Paris on Friday, March 7. (Prefecture de Police via AP)

Eurostar, operator of high-speed trains through the Channel Tunnel that links England with the European continent, announced the cancelation of all its services to and from its Paris hub at Gare du Nord and the U.K. and Belgian capitals.

"An unexploded bomb from the Second World War was discovered in this area," French national rail operator SNCF wrote on X. "Traffic will not resume until mid-afternoon, after formal authorization from the authorities."

Paris police also announced the closure of the A1 highway and sections of the capital's always-busy ring road around the city.





Passengers wait inside the departure hall as traffic was disrupted at the Gare du Nord train station in Paris, France, on Friday, March 7. (Reuters/Benoit Tessier)

At Paris' usually bustling Gare du Nord station, bright red signs warning of disruptions greeted commuters.



A pedestrian crosses the closed and empty Paris ring road on March 7, 2025. (Geoffroy Van Der Hasselt/AFP via Getty Images)

Images captured crowds of stranded travelers there and at the St. Pancras International train station in London.



French police secure the area near Paris close to the site where an unexploded bomb dating back to World War II was discovered overnight. (Reuters/Benoit Tessier)



"Due to an object on the tracks near Paris Gare du Nord, we are expecting disruption to our services this morning. Please change your journey for a different date of travel," Eurostar wrote on X.

_The Associated Press contributed to this report._

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