Ryan Dailey

Democrat staff writer

A World War II-era bomb was safely detonated near Florida State Wednesday night after it was discovered by construction workers building a college apartment complex on Madison Street. The blast could be heard from miles away.

The Tallahassee Police Department, with the assistance of a Tyndall Air Force Base ordnance detonating team, determined the bomb, found near Gay Street, needed to be disposed of in place. The Air Force crew out of Panama City excavated a deep hole and buried the bomb before detonating it about 9:30 p.m. The area was cleared of all bystanders.

Officers converged on the scene Wednesday afternoon after the bomb was discovered and evacuated nearby apartment complexes.

An official for North American Properties, which recently purchased the land from J.H. Dowling, said the bomb fell out of the roots of a tree as workers pulled it from the ground and it was removed using a backhoe. The superintendent told his supervisor, who relayed the information on to Shawn McIntyre, NAP Florida partner. McIntyre then notified authorities.

“We take the safety of our workers and contractors very seriously,” McIntyre said. “Our team followed proper procedure upon recognizing the potential hazard. Thanks to their actions, we will be able to take every precaution to ensure the area is clear of any threat before moving forward.”

McIntyre has hired experts to canvass the area to ensure no similar devices exist.

The company is in the process of building a five-story student apartment complex on the parcel.