A man has died when a car exploded in Marsa this morning. Sources have confirmed that the victim is Victor Calleja, also known as Ic-Chippu, of Hamrun. He was 61 years old.

The bomb is believed to have been inside the car and was detonated electronically.

The police said that the man died on site. He was in an Opel Astra that was being driven in the direction of Qormi.

 

All the vehicle's glass windows were shattered and the roof of the car ended up in an inverted 'v' shape.

In a statement, the police said that the incident took place at 8.10am in Qormi Road, close to the Maltapost offices.

Magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech is conducting an inquiry.

Mr Calleja, 61,  has a history with the police having been  implicated in the 22 December 1998 holdup on a Group 4 security van, in which Lm50,000 in cash were stolen. 

The explosion was heard from nearby areas such as Marsa, Hamrun and Luqa.

Last year, there were three incidents involving car bombs, with the last one killing businessman John Camilleri on 31 October.

The first bomb killed Martin Cachia as he was driving along the Marsascala bypass in January.

In August, Josef Cassar lost both legs after a bomb exploded in his van on Aldo Moro Road in Marsa.

The road is at present closed to traffic.

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Photos Michael Camilleri