Unexploded Ordnance Continues to Surface Globally
Unexploded ordnance from past conflicts continues to be discovered around the world, prompting evacuations and requiring the expertise of bomb disposal units. Recent incidents in Hong Kong, France, and Slovakia demonstrate the ongoing risk posed by remnants of World War II and other conflicts.
On , a discovery in Hong Kong initially reported as a “bomb” turned out to be a British-made cannon barrel, potentially dating back to the 19th century. The barrel was found buried three meters underground in the East Tsim Sha Tsui district, leading to a temporary closure of Granville Road while explosive disposal experts investigated. Professor Kwong Chi-man, a military historian at Baptist University, identified the object as a coastal defence gun commonly used in British defensive ports. He stressed that the cannon was not related to World War II.
Just over a month later, on , a more substantial threat emerged in Paris, France. Police successfully defused a World War II-era bomb weighing over 1000 pounds near the Gare du Nord train station. The discovery caused significant disruption to train services, including Eurostar, as authorities worked to neutralize the explosive device.
Further east, in Bratislava, Slovakia, a 226 kg American aerial bomb from World War II was discovered during construction work on . This incident highlights the widespread presence of unexploded ordnance left over from the war, even decades later.
Hong Kong has experienced multiple discoveries of unexploded ordnance. On , police successfully defused a “severely damaged” World War II bomb found at a construction site in a busy commercial area. The discovery prompted the evacuation of more than 4,000 people and the closure of streets. This was not an isolated incident, as an identical model had been defused in the same area just a week prior, on Saturday.
The bomb found in Hong Kong in 2018 was an AN-M65, made by the United States and dropped on Japan-occupied Hong Kong during World War II. The territory, a British colony at the time, saw fierce fighting between Japanese forces and British and Allied troops between 1941 and 1945. This proves not uncommon for unexploded armaments from the conflict to be found in the region.
The defusal of the Hong Kong bomb in 2018 involved a complex operation. Bomb disposal officer Alick McWhirter described the work as “dirty, difficult and dangerous,” noting the severely damaged fuse mechanism and the challenging position of the bomb, which made it difficult for equipment to reach. Officers ultimately cut a large hole through the bomb’s shell to burn off the explosive material inside before lifting it off the site by crane.
These incidents underscore the enduring legacy of past conflicts and the potential dangers posed by unexploded ordnance. While the “ticking time bomb scenario” – a hypothetical situation used in ethical debates about torture – posits a scenario where knowledge of an imminent attack is held by a suspect, the real-world discoveries of unexploded bombs demonstrate the very tangible threat of explosive devices remaining hidden for years, even decades, after conflicts have ended.
