As of: September 23, 2023 6:00 a.m
There may be two bombs on the Schützenplatz in Göttingen. In order to remove the unexploded bombs, parts of the western part of the city were evacuated on Saturday. 10,000 people have to leave their homes.
The Lower Saxony Explosive Ordnance Disposal Service (KBD) has identified two possible unexploded bombs from the Second World War on the square in the western part of the city. In order to defuse or blow them up, the city has cordoned off the area around Schützenplatz today. A large number of emergency services from the fire brigade, police, THW, rescue services and other aid organizations are on large-scale operations in Göttingen. According to the city, the evacuation area extends to a radius of one kilometer. The area largely corresponds to the radius within which the citizens were evacuated in March during another unexploded ordnance operation, it was said.
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“Absolute stay and entry ban” from 6 a.m
There is an “absolute ban on staying and entering” during the work. This means that all citizens affected urban area live, work or otherwise stay there, had to leave the area by 6 a.m. Around 600 police officers from all over Lower Saxony as well as teams from the Göttingen Police Department have been on site since early morning to, among other things, monitor the evacuation area. The head of the Göttingen police station, Rainer Nolte, appealed in advance to the common sense of those affected by the evacuations: “Please leave the designated restricted area on time and support the dangerous work of the demolition experts through your responsible behavior.” Nolte emphasized that anyone found by emergency services in the evacuation area after 6 a.m. must expect legal consequences, including the use of immediate coercion.
The police station is also in the evacuation area
The police station building on Groner Landstrasse is also affected by the evacuation. The office is within the 1,000 meter radius. For this reason, the guard there cannot be visited. During this time, the police station on Otto-Hahn-Straße will be responsible for operational and patrol duties. The Groner Wache telephones are also redirected there so that accessibility is guaranteed without restrictions.
Evacuation center in the Felix-Klein-Gymnasium
For those who cannot find private accommodation with someone, the city has one in the Felix-Klein-Gymnasium in the southern part of the city Evacuation center furnished. Accommodation and a basic supply of food and drinks are provided there, according to the city of Göttingen.
Information about the bombing can be accessed via the hotline
If you need information about the measures, you can call the hotline (0551) 400 50 50 recall. According to the city, it will remain active until the all-clear is given. If you have any questions about the application, you can also send them by email [email protected] judge. Current information about the work is also available here Live blog the city and available via the “Katwarn” app.
Buses should be rerouted
According to the city, the deployment also affects bus and train traffic. The city buses will therefore be rerouted, the regional buses will depart from other stops:
- Line 130 begins/ends at the Eiswiese stop
- Line 140 begins/ends at the Eiswiese stop
- Lines 150, 154, 155 and 160 start/end at the Theaterplatz stop
- Lines 180 and 185 start/end at the Lutteranger stop
- Lines 110, 210 and 220 start/end at Kauf Park
- Line 120 begins/ends at the Siekhöhe/Kaufpark stop
- They provide information about current diversions transport services
Source: City of Göttingen
The transport association is setting up a rail replacement service (SEV) for regional transport trains. During the work, the SEV and long-distance trains stop at Albaniplatz.
Preparations for bomb disposal have begun
According to the city, overseas containers were already placed last week around the possible sites to protect against splinters. They are intended to block the pressure wave if it becomes necessary to blow up the unexploded bombs. This was most recently the case in March: two unexploded bombs from the Second World War were blown up in a controlled manner – also in Weststadt.
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