During excavation work in Bratislava, an unexploded shell was discovered. In the photo, municipal police secure the area on Landererova Street on 8 September 2025. (source: TASR - Pavol Zachar)
An American Second World War bomb was discovered during excavation works in Bratislava on Monday evening, prompting police to cordon off part of the city centre and plan the evacuation of nearby buildings.
The 226kg AN-M64 aerial bomb was uncovered on Landererova Street, an area undergoing major redevelopment. The site is close to several residential blocks and office buildings.
Specialists from the Police Corps’ Criminal and Forensic Institute were immediately dispatched, with the head of the bomb disposal unit, Ján Ferér, confirming the device did not pose an immediate risk of detonation.
“We have established that there is no threat of an accidental explosion. Nobody is in danger at this time,” Ferér was quoted as saying by TV JOJ.
Experts are now deciding whether the bomb should be dismantled on site or transported and detonated elsewhere.
According to Ferér, an evacuation of nearby buildings will take place on Tuesday, 9 September.
Streets closed; bus station expected to remain open
The evacuation around Landererova Street – covering buildings on Mlynské Nivy, Košická, Landererova, Pribinova, Dostojevského rad and Karadžičova – will begin at 6:00 in the morning. Disposal of the bomb is expected to start after 9:00, with work due to be completed by midday.
Traffic restrictions linked to bomb disposal. (source: Facebook - Bratislava Region Police)
From 9:00, surrounding roads will be closed to all traffic, including Mlynské Nivy, Košická, Prístavná from Plynárenská, Apollo Bridge in both directions, Landererova, Pribinova and Dostojevského rad up to Krupkova Street.
According to preliminary information, the evacuation in Bratislava’s Ružinov district will not affect either the Eurovea complex – including the shopping centre and tower – or the Nivy development, comprising both the mall, the bus station and office tower, the district mayor Martin Chren said on social media.
Public transport in the city
Bratislava’s public transport operator said services would not run around Mlynské Nivy, Apollo Bridge and Dostojevského rad between 9:00 and 11:00 on Tuesday. Detailed restrictions can be found here.
Public transport diversions in Bratislava (9 September 2025)
Trolleybus services around Mlynské Nivy will be diverted:
Route 40 will run on a shortened route between the main railway station and the bus station.
Route 42 will be diverted between Hodžovo Square and Prievozská via Mickiewiczova, Záhradnícka and Svätoplukova, serving all stops on the diversion.
Route 60 will continue from Košická along Prievozská to Hraničná, serving all stops, but will not serve the bus station or Rajská.
Route 72 from Vrakuňa station will be diverted after Miletičova to Jelačičova, with connections to trams 4 and 9 at Trnavské mýto towards the city centre.
A replacement service X will operate between Rajská, 29 August Street and Hodžovo Square.
Bus routes around Mlynské Nivy, Dostojevského rad, Landererova, Košická and Apollo Bridge will also be affected:
Route 50 will run between Líščie Nivy and OC Einsteinova via Miletičova, Bajkalská, Prístavný Bridge and Einsteinova.
Route 68 will run between the University of Economics and Trhovisko via Prístavný Bridge, Bajkalská and Prievozská.
Route 70 will run between Prístavný Bridge and SNP Bridge via Prístavný Bridge and Einsteinova.
Route 78 will run on a shortened route between Podunajské Biskupice station and the bus station.
Route 87 will run between Piesčiny and the University of Economics via Prístavný Bridge.
Route 88 will run as normal between SNP Bridge and the University of Economics, then continue to Farského interchange, with transfers available to tram route 3 towards the city centre.
Route 90 will also be redirected from the University of Economics to Farského interchange.
Live updates from the Bratislava Transport Company will be available at www.dpb.sk, as well as on electronic information boards at stops and inside vehicles.
Source: DPB
This is not the first wartime device to be found in the area. Similar discoveries of American-made bombs dating back to the Second World War have been reported in Bratislava in recent years. During the war, the Apollo refinery stood in the area, making it a target for allied air raids. Several tonnes of bombs were dropped on the site of the former Apollo refinery in June and September 1944. At the time, wartime Slovakia functioned as a Nazi satellite state.
“After the raids the entire complex was buried. The original wartime terrain is still here, and construction work is now uncovering it,” Fehér said in 2021, when another bomb was discovered near Mlynské Nivy. That device was taken to Rusovce, where it was safely disposed of.
