Disposal of 2 ERWs in Sicily

The bomb disposal unit of the Italian Army, assigned to the 4th Engineer Regiment of Palermo, executed a complex ordnance disposal (EOD) operation in the historical district of Randazzo, situated in the province of Catania, Italy. This operation concerned two unexploded wartime devices from the Second World War (ERWs), discovered in two distinct locations within the town. The initial device, identified as a 250-pound aerial bomb of American manufacture, was situated in proximity to the Basilica Minore di Santa Maria Assunta. The controlled detonation of this device necessitated the temporary relocation of several hundred residents from an area extending 350 meters from the discovery site. The second device, a British bomb of equivalent size possessing significant explosive capacity, was unearthed in the soil of a municipal plant nursery. Neutralization procedures were conducted remotely, utilizing sophisticated robotic apparatus. Both devices were initially rendered safe at their respective locations before being transported to a designated quarry equipped for terminal destruction. The intricate nature of the operation required the synchronized participation of law enforcement agencies, the Fire Brigade, the Italian Red Cross, the National Civil Aviation Authority (ENA), and representatives from the Superintendency for Cultural Heritage. The operation was completed without any reported injuries or property damage.