World War II Bomb Disrupts Paris Rail Traffic Near Gare du Nord
A 500-kg explosive from World War II was discovered during construction in Saint-Denis, halting train services and prompting evacuations before being safely neutralized.
- The bomb, containing 200 kg of explosives, was unearthed 2.5 km from Gare du Nord during overnight construction work on March 7, 2025.
- Train operations at Gare du Nord, one of Europe’s busiest stations, were suspended, affecting TGV, Eurostar, RER, and TER services.
- Authorities evacuated 200 residents and implemented road closures, including sections of the A1 highway and the Parisian ring road, for safety during the demining operation.
- Demining was completed successfully by late afternoon, with train services resuming progressively from 6 PM and normal operations expected by Saturday morning.
- The discovery highlights the ongoing presence of unexploded ordnance in France, with hundreds of tons of wartime munitions still found annually.
Le Figaro 
Ouest-France 
Courrier International 
Libération 
La Croix 
Sud Ouest 
Le Nouvel Obs 