Enforcement officers are taking direct action at an illegal scrapyard in Birzebbuga this morning, after the owners ignored orders from the Planning Authority to close it down. 

The plan is to clean up tons of illegal material dumped at the scrapyard at ta Harbat, which is known to be an area of archaeological importance. 

According to sources, two men at the scrapyard were arrested after they resisted the PA action and threatened one of the officers. It is not the first time that authority tried to take action to stop the operation, but it was halted by the court. 

Several scrapped vehicles, air conditioners and engines are among the many items being removed from site. Public lanes in the adjacent fields had even been blocked off.

Owner John Bonett said the scrapyard had been in operation since 1968, a claim contested by the PA.

The police and Transport Malta officials are in the area. 

One of the owners had attacked journalists last summer after a big fire engulfed the scrapyard.

A scrapped car being towed away this morning.