Controlled explosions destroyed 314 bombs, Yiannis Constantatos, mayor of Elliniko-Argiroupoli district, announced at a briefing.
According to him, the bombs were placed under facilities of the Pontic Union (a union of Greeks from the Black Sea), kindergartens and sports facilities.
“The shocking thing is that the 314 bombs that the Germans stored were at a depth of 2 meters directly under the former Pontic Union facilities, our kindergartens and sports facilities that were located inside the former airport, as well as adjacent to the Olympic sites, where thousands of people come every day”, commented the mayor.
“Thank God, there was never any destruction or explosions, although it is amazing how an entire airport and dozens of municipal and civil aviation department facilities were operating in this minefield,” Konstantatos added.
The bombs were discovered during construction work and were destroyed in controlled explosions.
Ellinikon Airport is located just a few kilometers from the center of Athens, operated until 2001 and closed after the construction of Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport for the 2004 Olympic Games.
Privatization of the territory of the former “Elinicon” airport is one of the mandatory conditions for granting loans from the three international creditors during the crisis.
Now, on the site of the former airport, it is planned to build a residential complex, an entertainment complex, a casino, a hotel and a park, as well as a skyscraper with a height of almost 200 meters.
It is the largest investment project in Greece, worth 8 billion (15.77 billion leva) euros, and one of the largest urban development projects in Europe.
