Serbian police announced that bomb disposal units successfully removed a massive 470-kilogram aerial bomb dating back to World War II from a construction site in central Belgrade. The discovery prompted a large-scale security operation to ensure the safety of residents and property in the densely populated area.
Bomb details and historical background
Authorities have revealed that the bomb found is an American-made AN-M44. The incident dates back to 1944, specifically to the final stages of World War II, when Allied forces conducted a series of intensive air raids on Nazi German positions and strategic infrastructure in the former Yugoslavia. These raids were part of the effort to liberate Belgrade from Nazi occupation. However, a number of the munitions used failed to detonate on impact, remaining buried underground as silent witnesses and latent dangers for decades.
Safety procedures and the complex transportation process
Given the sensitivity of the location—the construction site being close to populated residential areas and a busy shopping center—the area underwent a thorough reconnaissance and risk assessment to ensure safe conditions before the explosive device was moved. Police issued strict instructions to residents to temporarily evacuate their homes and move their vehicles away from the likely transport route. After securing the perimeter, the bomb was carefully transported to a military training center located 180 kilometers from Belgrade, where it is scheduled to be dismantled and destroyed in a controlled manner in the coming days.
A history of unexploded ordnance in Serbia
This incident is not unique in Serbia, a country whose territory has witnessed numerous military conflicts throughout the last century, leaving a heavy legacy of war remnants. In September 2024, a century-old artillery shell (from World War I) weighing approximately 300 kilograms was recovered from a construction site near the Serbian parliament building. Earlier that year, another large bomb from the 1999 NATO bombing campaign was also found.
In a related incident, in 2021, authorities successfully removed another World War II-era bomb weighing 242 kilograms in a Belgrade suburb. These recurring discoveries underscore the ongoing challenge faced by infrastructure and urban development projects in European cities that were the scene of major military operations, highlighting the crucial role of explosive ordnance disposal teams in protecting civilians.
