According to the fire brigade, four people were injured in the explosion of an aerial bomb on a Deutsche Bahn construction site in Munich, one of them seriously. The fire department reports that the bomb exploded in the ground during drilling work for the second main S-Bahn line. The tracks were not damaged. But all rail traffic around Munich Central Station had to be stopped, said a rail spokesman.
This affects long-distance and local transport, the S-Bahn main line is also closed between Laim and Rosenheimer Platz. How long the traffic will stand still is still unclear.
Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann (CSU) was at the scene of the accident at noon to get an idea of the situation. Why the bomb was not discovered in advance is still unclear. Normally, during construction work in Munich city center, it is always carefully and regularly probed where duds could be. Experts from the ordnance disposal service were included in the investigation.
According to the police, there had been a loud bang near the Donnersbergerbrücke, then a column of smoke formed. “We are in the process of taking care of the people,” said a fire department spokesman on site. At first it was unclear how the explosion came about, the emergency services suspected a deflagration. Then it turned out that an old WWII aerial bomb had detonated. The police confirmed on Wednesday. For the time being there was no further information.
The Donnersbergerbrücke is not far from the main train station in the center of Munich on the main route of the Munich S-Bahn. Numerous fire engines and around 50 emergency services were on site, a federal police helicopter circled over the area.
According to Deutsche Bahn, it was not yet possible to foresee when the railway lines could be used again. Passengers can get on www.bahn.de/aktuell inform as well as on DB Regio Bavaria, You can find information about the S-Bahn here.