The 1,000-pound American bomb was uncovered during excavation work Thursday afternoon. (Kaiserslautern City)

A 1,000-pound World War II-era U.S. aircraft bomb discovered Thursday afternoon in Kaiserslautern’s Stadtwald area was successfully defused late that night, according to city officials.

Roughly 1,000 residents from parts of Betzenberg and the university district were evacuated while authorities secured the area. Airspace over the site was also temporarily closed during the operation.

The city announced at 11:09 p.m. that the bomb had been safely defused and residents could return home. Evacuees were offered shelter and food at the Fanhalle Nord, a facility run by the city’s soccer club.