WW2 bomb defused in Turin after thousands evacuate Published duration 1 December 2019 Related Topics World War Two

media caption Soldiers work to detonate a British World War Two bomb in Turin

More than 10,000 people were evacuated from central Turin on Sunday as experts worked to defuse a World War Two bomb.

Residents of the Italian city were told to vacate a "red zone" in the historic district.

A further 50,000 living further away were told either to leave their homes in advance, or to remain inside during the operation.

The British bomb, dropped on the city during WW2, contained 65kg (140lbs) of dynamite, authorities said.

Turin Major Chiara Appendino said a detonator at the tail end of the device needed deactivating.

Local media said on Sunday afternoon that the operation to decommission the bomb had been completed faster than expected, and residents within the two zones had been allowed to go home.

Air space above Turin was closed during the operation.