Explosive Discovered During Construction At Amsterdam-Schiphol Airport

Workers discovered a live bomb left over from WWII during an excavation operation at Amsterdam-Schiphol airport Wednesday, causing flights to be delayed and cancelled at Europe’s fifth-largest airport.

The French news service AFP reports that the bomb was uncovered about 0800 local time, and its WWII origin was confirmed by airport spokeswoman Antionette Spaans. She said some flight had been cancelled, and dozens of others had been delayed. One of the airport's terminals was evacuated as a precaution while the device was dismantled.

Spaans said that operations at the airport would be affected at least through the day on Wednesday. Dutch military police would not give a firm timeline for the bomb's dismantling.

The Dutch media reports that Schiphol was bombed twice during the war; once by the Germans early in the war, and later by the Allies.

Unexploded bombs and mines are reportedly found fairly regularly in the region by fishing trawlers and farmers when they plow. A WWII mine exploded on the deck of a Dutch fishing trawler in 2005 after it was caught in a net and brought on board, killing three fishermen.

FMI: www.schiphol.nl/index_en.html