Berlin, 19 September 2025 (dpa/MIA) - A World War II bomb discovered Thursday in the Spree River in Berlin's central Mitte district does not need to be defused, authorities said early Friday.

"We can give the all-clear," a Berlin police spokesman told dpa. "There is no longer any danger. The bomb does not need to be defused."

It will be retrieved from the Spree and safely disposed of, the spokesman said. "The incendiary bomb was classified as harmless during the assessment," he added.

Divers had inspected the bomb early Friday morning. The area around the discovery site in the Fischerinsel neighbourhood was cordoned off, prompting the evacuation of several thousand residents.

Meanwhile, a 100-kilogram World War II bomb is scheduled to be defused later on Friday in the western Berlin district of Spandau, where authorities have also established a cordoned-off safety zone.

The planned defusals prompted the evacuations of thousands across the German capital.

Specialists were set to first neutralize a bomb discovered in the Spree River near the popular tourist area of Fischerinsel in the central Mitte district. Police said around 10,000 residents were ordered to leave their homes. A second planned defusal in the western Berlin district of Spandau required roughly 12,400 people to evacuate.

In Mitte, a 500-metre safety perimeter was established on Thursday evening. Authorities went door to door to notify residents before a public alert was issued around midnight.

According to the police, medical facilities are not affected by the evacuation. However, the cordoned-off area does include embassies and government administration buildings.

Roads were closed and a subway line was temporarily suspended. Temporary shelters have been arranged for those unable to stay with friends or relatives.

The bomb had been uncovered during construction work and police said silt in the river could complicate recovery. A police spokesman said that once everyone was safe, experts would be able to examine the bomb underwater.

In Spandau, a 100-kilogram wartime bomb discovered Wednesday will also be defused Friday. A safety zone was set up around the site and a local gym was opened as an emergency shelter for evacuees.

As the bomb did not pose an immediate threat, the police decided to carry out the defusal only at a later point. The site was cordoned off and, according to police, has been guarded by officers since.