There were no signs of injury or violence on kidnapping victim Martin Galea, civil service head Mario Cutajar said today. Mr Galea has since been discharged from hospital.

Mr Cutajar said the jigsaw puzzle of events leading to Mr Galea’s abduction is still being pieced together, and he is being debriefed by the Maltese security services.

The government never used the word “abduction” he said, and it was the media who called it an abduction.

OPM communication head Kurt Farrugia said the exact sequence of events was never clear, and the government never had direct contact with whoever was holding Mr Galea.

Maltese man injured by explosion outside Libya home transported to Malta

A Maltese man injured by an explosion outside his Libya home was transported to Malta and successfully treated at Mater Dei Hospital, Mr Cutajar said.  

Seven people in total are currently being treated at Mater Dei, with one more injured person en-route.

Mr Cutajar said evacuation plans are in place, including a fallback position. He said the government’s position is for all nationals to leave the country.

Around 100 Maltese are still in Libya he said. The most volatile spot is in Benghazi, where 20-30 Maltese are believed to be.

Chinese nationals are expected to be evacuated “by the hundreds” in the coming hours and days.