WWII-era bomb found on college campus, detonated by military

The ground shook near a New Jersey military base as an explosives team detonated a 500-pound World War II-era bomb that had been found on the campus of a community college.

The unexploded ordnance was taken to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. It had been discovered Thursday during excavation for a new building at Middlesex County College, which is on the site of the former Raritan Arsenal.

When it was found, college officials evacuated construction workers. But classrooms and other campus facilities were far enough away that they were not affected.

Air Force Staff Sgt. Adam Usher, leader of the 87th Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal team, says his group has up to three emergency calls a week. None had ever involved such as large bomb.

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