Construction workers plying their trade at the new MCAST campus in Paola came across more than dust and debris yesterday morning, when they unearthed a bomb which is believed to date back to the Second World War.

The bomb, which sources have described as considerably large, was discovered at around 10.30am yesterday during works on the first phase of the building of the new MCAST campus, by MCAST and the Foundation for Tomorrow’s Schools (FTS)

As workers were carrying out excavation works in the area where the new underground car park will be located they discovered the bomb, which was hidden some two to three metres below the surface in the school’s former playground.

Upon finding the bomb, the local explosive ordnance and police authorities were immediately called in, and MCAST was advised to evacuate the campus as a precaution.

All campus activities were cancelled, and students and staff were given the rest of the day off, so as to ensure their safety while the relevant authorities and experts cleared any potential danger from the site, this despite the fact that the bomb’s location was not very close to the buildings that are currently being used for lectures.

The WWII German bomb, which weighs some 500 kilograms and contained approximately 250 kilograms of explosives, was rendered safe for transport and disposal by the AFM’s bomb disposal experts.

Back when works on the new campus had not even started, the college had been warned of the possibility of such findings, since this area which lies between the harbour and the airport had been heavily bombed during World War II.

MCAST is taking all the necessary measures to ensure the health and safety of all students and staff, while the construction of the new campus is taking place, a spokesperson for MCAST told this newspaper.