An explosion caused considerable damage to the Toyota Showroom in Zebbug early this morning. The blast was later revealed to have been caused by an improvised explosive device.

The blast went off at around 1am and residents nearby thought it was an explosion related to fireworks.

The police said that the showroom windows were broken in the blast, while a car that was inside was also damaged.

Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera ordered an inquiry.

People eating at a nearby restaurant were deafened by the explosion and ran out to see what was happening. The pictures with this story were taken a few seconds after the blast. The police car shown in the photo happened to be passing by when the explosion occurred. 

Police and officers from the Rapid Intervention Unit were on site within minutes, as was a team from the Explosives Ordinance Unit of the Armed Forces of Malta.

Nobody was injured.