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Four World War II shells discovered in a Parisian cellar

undefined undefined 18 février 2026 undefined 08h30

The Editor

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On Monday afternoon, an explosive discovery shook the 11th arrondissement. Four World War II shells were uncovered in the basement of a building on Faubourg-du-Temple Street. Residents were evacuated, and a large security perimeter was established.

An explosive discovery at 38 rue du Faubourg-du-Temple (11th arrondissement). It's 6 PM when workers go down to the basement to fix a leak. But while digging under a tank, their tools strike something unimaginable: four WWII shells buried there for decades.

According to a resident, about thirty inhabitants of this six-story building were evacuated as a precaution. “We're not worried, but it's surprising,” he shared, explaining that he found refuge in a bar located about fifty meters away, along with several of his neighbors.

An important security measure deployed

A security perimeter was quickly set up around the building. Faubourg-du-Temple Street was closed to traffic between the Saint-Martin Canal and Parmentier Avenue during the intervention.

The bomb disposal teams from the central laboratory of the police prefecture proceeded with the neutralization of explosive devices. The operation went smoothly without any incidents, and residents were able to return to their homes around 8:15 PM. The police prefecture stated that the area had been secured for further exploration the following day.

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Une publication partagée par M6 Info (@m6info)


War remnants still present

This type of discovery is rare but not unprecedented in the Paris region. Last March, a bomb from World War II was discovered in Saint-Denis, close to the tracks leading to Gare du Nord. Train traffic was completely halted for several hours.

Almost 80 years after the end of the conflict, the material traces of the war still sometimes resurface beneath the soils of the Île-de-France.