Tunnels leading to jewelry shop, exchange office found during metro construction in Istanbul

ISTANBUL

A tunnel leading to a jewelry shop and one leading to an exchange office were found during digging works of a metro line construction in Istanbul, state-run Anadolu Agency reported on May 16.

Almost seven meters in length, the tunnel leading to the jewelry shop was found during the Dudullu-Bostancı metro line construction. 

Workers also found another tunnel dug opposite from it while they were working under the Ali Nihat Tarlan Street in the Bostancı neighborhood. They informed the police right after.  

Police teams were dispatched to the scene for an investigation, confirming that the tunnel was dug to reach the jewelry shop on the street. Yaşar Güder, the owner of the shop, arrived at the scene after the police informed him.

Güder said he was shocked at the incident, adding that the tunnel was only two meters away from his shop.

“The tunnel, which is only two meters away from my shop, was dug toward a place where the shop’s money storage is. I do not know why and who dug the tunnel. I hope the suspects will be found immediately,” he said. 

Gökhan Keser, a worker at the construction, said they found two different tunnels. 

“First we saw a hole during the digging works of the metro construction. After that, the hole collapsed and the tunnels disappeared. One of the tunnels was leading to the jewelry shop, the other one was leading to an exchange office. We informed the police about this,” he said. 

An investigation into the incident has been opened.