Padua: Folgore EOD technicians neutralize 240-kilogram aerial bomb found along railway line

EOD technicians from the Esercito Italiano responded on the morning of 25 October 2026 in Pontevigodarzere, Padua, to neutralize an American aerial bomb dating back to World War II.

The ordnance, a 500-pound bomb with a total weight of approximately 240 kilograms, was discovered during work to double the Padua–Castelfranco Veneto railway line.

500-meter area evacuated

The clearance operation was coordinated by the Prefecture of Padua and the Esercito’s Comando Territoriale Nord, with support from the relevant authorities and local agencies.

Before the operation, a safety area with a radius of approximately 500 meters from where the bomb was found was evacuated.

Specialists from the 8° Reggimento Genio Guastatori Paracadutisti “Folgore” in Legnago neutralized the fuzing systems and secured the ordnance.

Controlled detonation in Rossano Veneto

The bomb was then moved and transported to a designated area in the municipality of Rossano Veneto, in the province of Vicenza, where it was scheduled for subsequent controlled detonation.

According to the Esercito, coordination among the institutional components involved made it possible to conduct the clearance operation safely.

The 8° Reggimento Genio Guastatori Paracadutisti “Folgore”, a unit of the Brigata Paracadutisti “Folgore”, conducts daily operations to clear explosive ordnance and wartime remnants in the provinces under its responsibility.

The clearance of wartime remnants is among the ongoing activities carried out by the Esercito Italiano for the benefit of the public, using specialized personnel and dedicated technical capabilities.