The masterminds behind the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia have been identified, Times of Malta reports today, quoting police sources.
The newspaper, which says that it got the information from high ranking officers within the force, says a group of “more than two” Maltese nationals have been identified.
The report says there was no indication of how much longer the investigation could take.
The investigators believe these people had different motives for carrying out the assassination but came together to contract the three men accused of having planted and triggered the bomb, the Times says.
The newspaper said its sources would not give any indication of who these suspects were or whether they came from the criminal, business or political world.
The Caruana Galizia family said it was not formally informed by the police that the suspected masterminds had been identified.
Daphne Caruana Galizia was killed in a car bomb on 16 October 2017.
Three men stand charged with her murder. Brothers Alfred Degiorgio (known as Il-Fulu) and George Degiorgio (Iċ-Ċiniż) as well as Vince Muscat (il-Koħħu), were arrested on 4 December 2017 and charged with the murder soon after. Over the past months, there was mounting pressure on the government and the police to find not only those who executed the murder but also those who planned and commissioned it.
In a report published earlier this week, a European Parliament rule of law delegation that came to Malta in September said Police Commissioner had told them that the murder investigation had reached “a very delicate stage.”
Times of Malta said the investigators are in “constant contact” with Europol – the EU’s law enforcement agency.
The sources said there was a very large amount of data that needed to be analysed and “partners like Europol have the necessary experience and expertise to help facilitate this process.”
The newspaper said other Maltese officials analysing financial transactions said a paper trail of evidence was being established, however, this was not yet “concrete”.