WWII bomb unearthed in London forces evacuations
LONDON -- British police closed roads and evacuated hundreds of homes near London's Wembley Stadium Friday as the army worked to render an unexploded World War II bomb safe.
The 110-pound bomb was discovered by builders working near the stadium. It is believed to have been dropped over London during German bombing raids in the early 1940s.
An army spokesman said the bomb was in a "potentially dangerous condition" and that even under a controlled explosion it could cause significant damage to property and a "genuine risk to life." A cordon was placed around the site and British Army bomb disposal experts worked to secure the device.
"The team is very well experienced. They've dealt with Improvised Explosive Devices in Iraq, Afghanistan and Northern Ireland which are much more complex than Second World War munitions," an Army spokesman told CBS News partner network Sky News.
Later Friday afternoon, the London Metropolitan Police issued a statement declaring an all-clear.
Detective Chief Superintendent Mickey Gallagher said the Army technicians had safely removed the device.
"I must also thank our courageous soldiers from various Army regiments for working tirelessly for over 24 hours, using their skill and experience to safely bring this incident to its conclusion," Gallager said in a statement.