Television footage from the scene showed the mangled wreckage of the digger’s cab and a nearby hut, and windows and doors blown out by the blast.

“During excavations … the digger uncovered a wartime bomb, which exploded. The driver was killed, and several others close to the digger were hurt. Two are seriously injured and six lightly,” police spokesman Norbert Hardt said.

“The blast caused significant damage, also in neighboring streets where glass and garage doors were blown out,” he added.