London City Airport shut after WWII bomb found

An unexploded bomb from World War Two has been found near London's most central airport, leading to its closure throughout Monday, airport officials say.

The bomb was discovered in the river at King George V Dock alongside the airport's runway during pre-planned work, police said. 

"A 214m (234-yard) exclusion zone has been implemented as a precaution by the Met Police. As a result, London City Airport is currently closed," the airport said in a statement.

The airport, located in east London, urged passengers to steer clear of the area.

"All passengers due to travel from London City on Monday are advised to contact their airline for further information," the statement said.

Read more: WWII bomb scare leads German police to heavy zucchini 

The Metropolitan police said the ordnance was reported to authorities early Sunday after it was discovered during planned development works. At 10 p.m. (2200 UTC) an exclusion zone was put in place "to ensure that the ordnance can be safely dealt with whilst limiting any risk to the public," a police statement said.

Read more: German town lives with lethal legacy of World War II

Tens of thousands of tons of bombs were dropped on London during the Blitz by Germany's Luftwaffe between September 1940 and May 1941. More than 75 years later, unexploded remnants of war are still being discovered, mostly on building sites and properties undergoing redevelopment.

The London City Airport is used for short-haul flights and is located close to the Canary Wharf business district in east London.