The 15-metre uncompleted tunnel to the Swieqi HSBC bank branch is believed to have taken more than two months to bore, and produced some 900 50-kilogram sacks of rubble.

Professionals said the tunnellers probably used hand tools and had a good background in structural engineering.

However the project may have been abandoned some time ago.  

Neighbours and garage owners told the Times of Malta that that they had seen the diggers. A tradesmen said he had often noticed men leaving after 10 p.m. But he never thought anything of it.

More details in the Times of Malta and the e-paper on timesofmalta.com Premium.

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