UNESCO Discovers Hidden Bombs in Historic Mosul Mosque

UNESCO found five bombs hidden in the al-Nouri Mosque in Mosul, Iraq. The devices, remnants of IS rule, were located in a rebuilt section of the mosque's wall. Iraqi authorities have requested UNESCO to halt reconstruction and evacuate the site until all explosives are safely removed.

In a significant discovery, UNESCO reported finding five bombs hidden within the walls of the historic al-Nouri Mosque in Mosul, Iraq. The bombs, remnants of the Islamic State's control over the area, were located in a specially rebuilt section of the southern wall of the Prayer Hall.

The al-Nouri Mosque, renowned for its 12th-century leaning minaret, was destroyed by IS in 2017. Since 2020, it has been at the center of UNESCO's extensive restoration efforts. The discovery of these large-scale explosive devices has led Iraqi authorities to promptly secure and control the area.

One bomb has been defused, while the remaining four interconnected devices are to be safely disposed of shortly. Consequently, all reconstruction work at the mosque has been halted, with a full evacuation of the site ordered until the devices are disarmed. This incident underscores the ongoing challenges of clearing Mosul of explosives and rebuilding its war-torn infrastructure.

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