Riviera Times - The English language newspaper for the French - Italian Riviera and the Principality of Monaco
Riviera Times - The English language newspaper for the French - Italian Riviera and the Principality of Monaco
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| 05.09.2008 | |
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British bomb causes havoc in frontier townWWII explosive denoted last week in high security operationAn unexploded bomb, said to be a World War II explosive dropped by the RAF, recently provoked the mass evacuation of the Italian border town of Ventimiglia. The bomb, with the capacity to cause damage across a 500 metre radius, disrupted both rail services and road traffic. The explosive, 1.5m in length and over 250kg in weight, was found at the end of May near the train station in Ventimiglia and was detonated under controlled conditions this month. Dated 1943, it is believed to have been dropped during a raid by British bombers. Its discovery prompted a major operation led by more than 500 people to secure and safely detonate the bomb, involving military bomb disposal experts as well as special agents of the police and emergency services personnel. 47 ambulances and 18 emergency vehicles were present at the scene. The operation occurred under intense scrutiny, involving the cutting of public services such as gas, water, electricity and telephone lines. Commencing at 2pm, the operation lasted two and a half hours after a siren sounded calls for the evacuation of the 8,000 inhabitants of the town. Train services between Italy and France were disrupted between 1.30pm and 7pm and all roads in and out of the town were cordoned off. Ventimiglia was a prime target during the war due to its strategic position on the French-Italian border, with the train lines and station being particular objectives of Allied bomber crews.
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24.06.2008
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