Blogger Daphne Caruana Galizia has died after a bomb planted in the car she was driving blew up, killing her instantly.

The incident in Bidnija Road, close to her place of residence, was reported to the police just after 3pm.

Caruana Galizia had just left her home and was driving towards Mosta when the rented car, a Peugeot 108, exploded, ending up in a field nearby. She died on site.

Daphne Caruana Galizia car bomb from The Malta Independent on Vimeo.

Her husband Peter was seen on the site of the incident soon afterwards.

TVM reported that one of Daphne Caruana Galizia's sons heard the explosion and reported it to the police. 

In comments to Net News, forensic expert Anthony Abela Medici said that the bomb appears not to have been inside the car. He also said that the explosive material might still be collected as evidence. He said that investigations still have to confirm if a remote control was used. If is, there might be the possibility to find parts of it.

"The size of the crater shows the extensive amount of explosive used," he said in comments on the PN media.

Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera is conducting an inquiry. Members of the Armed Forces of Malta bomb disposal unit are on site to help in the police investigations. TVM reported that the magistrate has given orders for foreign experts to be brought in to go through the evidence on site.

Daphne Caruana Galizia's husband Peter and sister Corinne Vella on the site of the explosion

Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera

In an official statement, President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca said the country is shocked and appealed that everybody should be careful on comments made. Solidarity must be shown with the family, she said.

President Coleiro Preca said that justice must take its course in the best interests of the country.

In comments to TVM later, Coleiro Preca expressed solidarity with Daphne Caruana Galizia's family, and said that this is a moment for people to come together, and for democracy to reign.  She said that the people must come together and rise above political partisanship. She said that nobody wins with this incident.

Archbishop Charles Scicluna expressed his support for everything the Prime Minister said, with regard to his determination to bring the person, or persons involved to justice.

He appealed for calm and national unity.

He said that this was a cruel act, an assault on liberty, on democracy. “We should not be afraid, and come together and show respect to one another.”

Democracy is not just words but facts, he said.

He then addressed all journalists in Malta, and he wished them all a long life.

The Institute of Maltese Journalists condemned the killing, saying that it was a direct attack on freedom of expression,

This is a black day for democracy, the institute said, expressing its solidarity with the family and urging the police to find the people behind the incident.

The institute urged journalists not to give up their duties to report without fear or favour.

The Chamber of Advocates issued a statement condemning the killing.

Caruana Galizia studied at St Dorothy's Convent and St Aloysius College. She worked as a journalist since 1987.

She was a regular columnist with The Sunday Times between 1990 and 1992, and 1993 and 1996, and was associated editor with The Malta Independent in 1992. She became a regular columnist with The Malta Independent and The Malta Independent on Sunday since 1996, and was editor of magazine Taste and Flair.

Since 2008, she launched her own website, Running Commentary.

Daphne Caruana Galizia married Peter Caruana Galizia in 1985 and they had three sons, Matthew, Andrew and Paul.

She was named among the 28 people who are “shaping, shaking and stirring” Europe by the influential “Politico” publication.

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