A 470-kilogram (1,000-pound) World War II aerial bomb was safely removed on Sunday from a construction site in a central district of Serbia’s capital, Belgrade, the police confirmed.

The US-made AN-M44 bomb was originally deployed during Allied air raids on German positions in 1944, during the liberation of Belgrade from Nazi occupation. Authorities described the removal operation as meticulous and carefully coordinated to ensure the safety of residents in the area.

According to the Belgrade Police, detailed reconnaissance of the site, which is located near a residential neighborhood and a shopping mall, was conducted ahead of the operation. Residents were advised to move their vehicles and temporarily vacate their homes to prevent accidents.

“The bomb was safely transported to an army arms training ground approximately 180 kilometers (110 miles) from Belgrade, where it is scheduled for controlled destruction in the coming days,” the police said.

EThis incident is part of a recurring pattern of unexploded ordnance discoveries in Serbia. In September 2024, a nearly 300-kilogram (660-pound) century-old artillery shell was cleared near the Serbian parliament in Belgrade. Earlier that year, a large bomb from the 1999 NATO bombing campaign was discovered in Nis, southern Serbia.

In 2021, a 242-kilogram (530-pound) World War II bomb was removed from a Belgrade suburb without incident.

Police have reassured the public that all recent discoveries have been safely neutralized, emphasizing the continued vigilance of bomb disposal units in the country.