London City Airport closed all flights axed after WWII bomb found

The airport adjoins George V Dock, where an unexploded bomb was found early on Sunday morning during work to expand the Docklands hub.

The Metropolitan Police said: “Specialist officers and the Royal Navy have attended and confirmed the nature of the device.” It is believed to weigh half a ton.
At 10pm on Sunday, a 214-metre exclusion zone was imposed “to ensure that the ordnance can be safely dealt with whilst limiting any risk to the public”.

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A plane waits on the runway at London City Airport

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The airport said it is "hoping to resume normal operation" on Tuesday, according to a tweet from the airport's official account, and urged all passengers due to fly to contact their airlines for further information.

Metropolitan Police and the Royal Navy were deployed to the scene to examine the bomb and have confirmed it as a "500 kg (1102 pounds) tapered end shell measuring approximately 1.5 meters (4.9 feet)," according to a police statement issued Monday. "The timing of removal is dependent on the tides, however, at this stage we estimate that the removal of the device from location will be completed by tomorrow morning."

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More than 70 years after a bomb was dropped on London, its discovery has prompted authorities to cancel flights all day Monday at London City Airport.

The unexploded bomb is a "German 500kg fused device," according to local authorities. It was found early Sunday in the River Thames, as part of planned work at a dock near the airport, Metropolitan Police said in a statement.

At 10 p.m. Sunday, the police and Royal Navy decided to evacuate people within 706 feet of the bomb.

"Overnight, officers have been helping to evacuate properties within the exclusion zone and police are working with the local authority to provide residents with temporary emergency accommodation and the appropriate support," police said.

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