A major security operation unfolded at a medical facility in Toulouse, France, following the extraordinary discovery of a live artillery shell from the First World War inside a patient. The incident occurred on the night of Saturday, February 3, 2026, when a 24-year-old male French national was admitted to the Rangueil Accident and Emergency unit reporting intense pain.
During an urgent surgical procedure, medical staff made the alarming find: an active eight-inch munition, later identified as dating back to 1918, embedded within the patient’s anal canal. Recognizing the immediate danger, hospital authorities initiated emergency protocols, contacting specialized bomb disposal units and the local fire brigade without delay.
A substantial security perimeter was rapidly established around the affected area, necessitating the partial evacuation of the hospital wing to ensure staff and patient safety. Expert bomb disposal technicians were dispatched to the scene to evaluate and neutralize the potentially lethal object. Following a careful assessment, the century-old ordnance was successfully extracted from the patient and transported for secure destruction.
The individual at the center of this unusual case remained hospitalized, recovering from the surgical intervention. Meanwhile, judicial authorities have initiated proceedings, with prosecutors reportedly considering charges related to the illegal possession of category A munitions, a serious offense under French law.
This event marks the second such occurrence in recent years. In 2022, a hospital in the southern city of Toulon faced a nearly identical situation when an elderly patient arrived with a similar WWI-era shell, likewise prompting a partial evacuation and bomb squad response.