WWII Bomb Safely Detonated at Czech Chemical Plant

Czech experts successfully detonated a World War II bomb on Friday at a major chemical plant in northwestern Czech Republic. The 250-kilogram bomb, discovered on August 21 during construction work, caused only minor damage, including a few broken windows, following the controlled explosion. The plant, located near Litvinov, is owned by Polish oil company PKN Orlen.

Authorities chose to detonate the bomb onsite rather than transport it due to its rare chemical mechanism designed to delay the explosion. To minimize damage, they covered the bomb with hundreds of sandbags and enforced strict safety measures. A nearby road was closed, trams halted, and a 2-kilometer area was cordoned off before the noon explosion. During the Nazi occupation, the refinery produced fuel for Nazi troops and was frequently targeted by Britain's Royal Air Force. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)