Berlin - The discovery of an unexploded World War II bomb in the river Elbe in Hamburg stopped shipping traffic Wednesday, as emergency services worked to make the device safe.

Some 2,000 people were evacuated from offices near the site of a planned cruise ship terminal in the port city, after the 250-kilo bomb was found during dredging work.

A fire service spokesman said that "there is still some danger, as it isn't clear whether or not the fuse in the device has been reactivated due to movement."

The spokesman said that if necessary a controlled explosion would be carried out.

In April, a Soviet bomb from WWII was discovered near the Berlin residence of Chancellor Angela Merkel, which was later made safe. (dpa)