In a significant discovery, UNESCO finds bombs from the ISIS era hidden in the walls of a Mosul mosque. Read about the ongoing investigation

The historic al-Nouri Mosque in Mosul, northern Iraq, has been found to contain five hidden bombs by the United Nations cultural agency. UNESCO announced this discovery on Saturday (Jun. 29).

In response, Iraqi authorities have asked UNESCO to cease all reconstruction work at the mosque and evacuate the entire complex until the explosives are disarmed.

The mosque, known for its leaning minaret from the 12th century, was destroyed by the Islamic State in 2017 and has been a key focus of UNESCO’s restoration efforts since 2020.

UNESCO reported that five large explosive devices, intended for significant damage, were discovered inside the southern wall of the Prayer Hall on Tuesday.

These devices were “hidden within a specially reconstructed part of the wall,” according to the statement. Iraqi authorities were informed, and the area has been secured.

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One bomb has already been defused and removed, while the remaining four are “connected and will be safely disposed of in the coming days.”

The mosque gained notoriety when IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared an Islamic caliphate from there a decade ago on June 29, 2014. The mosque was subsequently destroyed by extremists during the battle to liberate Mosul in 2017.

The presence of these bombs highlights the ongoing challenges in clearing Mosul of explosives and rebuilding its devastated urban areas.

International efforts, with the support of the United Nations, are focused on mine clearance and assisting in the city’s recovery.

Despite some progress, much of Mosul’s old city remains in ruins, with warning signs indicating the presence of minefields.

UNESCO aims to finish the complete reconstruction of al-Nouri Mosque by December 2024.