Thieves Dug a Tunnel Toward a Bank in Antwerp

Belgian police launched an investigation on Sunday after discovering that thieves may have dug a tunnel through the sewer system in an attempt to reach a BNP Paribas Fortis bank branch in Antwerp.

The possible break-in was discovered Sunday afternoon at a Belgian bank branch, but investigators initially did not know whether the thieves had managed to steal anything or how much property or money might have been taken.

William Meijboom, a police spokesperson, said the bank alerted authorities at around 3:30 p.m. after staff discovered signs of a possible burglary.

“We were alerted by the bank after traces of a break-in were discovered,” Meijboom said. He explained that it was still too early to say whether the burglars had actually managed to take anything from the bank, adding that police would investigate the incident and provide further information as it became available.

Police Investigate Tunnel Through Sewer System

Investigators were examining whether the burglars had attempted to reach the bank through Antwerp’s sewer system after digging an underground tunnel toward the branch.

Specialized technical investigators from the Federal Judicial Police were sent to the scene to examine the suspected tunnel and other evidence that could help determine how the attempted break-in was carried out.

At that stage of the investigation, no suspects had been arrested, and police were still working to establish exactly what happened and whether the burglars managed to enter the bank’s secure areas.

BNP Paribas Fortis Declines to Comment

Journalists also contacted BNP Paribas Fortis about the incident, but a bank representative declined to comment while the police investigation was still underway.

The unusual suspected method of entry quickly attracted attention because investigators were looking into the possibility that the criminals had used Antwerp’s underground sewer network and a newly dug tunnel to approach the bank.