BFF-55 WW2 shell defused at Brussels airport

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BFF-55

BELGIUM-BOMB-HISTORY-WWI

WW2 shell defused at Brussels airport

BRUSSELS, June 2, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Bomb disposal experts have defused a
Second World War shell found during building work at Brussels’ international
airport, officials said on Saturday.

The shell was discovered during excavation work on part of the apron
located “at a safe distance” from the terminal buildings, the airport said in
a statement, meaning there was no danger to passengers and no disruption to
flights.

Construction work was halted and a 100-metre (yards) safety perimeter put
in place when the shell was found, the airport said.

Belgium’s military bomb disposal squad, known by the acronym DOVO, was
called in to neutralise the device overnight.

“DOVO was able to dismantle the shell without having to detonate it.
Brussels Airport wishes to thank DOVO and all services and partners involved
for the good collaboration,” it said.

Millions of shells and other munitions fell in Belgium during the First
and Second World Wars and DOVO is regularly called out to deal with
unexploded ordnance.

BSS/AFP/ARS/1726 hrs