World War II Bomb Disrupts Paris Rail and Road Traffic

A 500-kilogram bomb unearthed in Saint-Denis halted trains at Gare du Nord and closed major roads before successful disposal.

A World War II bomb weighing 500 kilograms was discovered during construction work in Saint-Denis, just north of Paris, in the early hours of March 7, 2025.
The discovery led to the evacuation of 200 residents and the establishment of a safety perimeter by police in Saint-Denis and Saint-Ouen.
Rail traffic at Gare du Nord, Europe’s busiest train station, was completely halted, affecting TGV, RER, TER, and Eurostar services, with disruptions extending to London’s St. Pancras station.
A portion of the Paris périphérique and the A1 highway was closed for hours during the bomb disposal operation, which concluded successfully by late afternoon.
Train services at Gare du Nord began resuming gradually from 6 PM, with Eurostar operations set to fully restart on Saturday, March 8, 2025.