In Cologne, a possible bomb in the ground threatens to close Autobahn 3 and evacuate a clinic with over 450 beds. Next Sunday (26 January), experts will dig at the site where the suspected bomb was found to see if it really is a bomb. If this is the case and a defusing is necessary, the closure and evacuation would have to be arranged immediately. This was announced by a spokesman for the Cologne public order office. However, it was not yet possible to say whether the object in the ground was a "bathtub or a bomb".

The background to this is the planned construction work at the clinic, according to the city. During the preparations, a metallic object was found in the ground last year. The site is not far from the heavily frequented section of the A3 between the Heumar intersection and the Cologne East intersection. According to ADAC, the A3 and the entire Cologne ring road are among the "most heavily trafficked motorway sections in North Rhine-Westphalia and also nationwide".

For this reason, the district government had also spoken out in favour of the proposed project on a Sunday. The date was also coordinated with the Cologne Trade Fair, the Lanxess Arena and the BayArena in Leverkusen, among others.

According to the hospital, it has more than 450 beds, which are usually occupied. A spokeswoman said that a comprehensive plan had been drawn up for the case of an evacuation. Patients and employees will then be taken to alternative quarters by buses and ambulances.

(Original text: (dpa); Translation: Mareike Graepel)