Investigators are currently dismantling the undetonated car bomb that was placed underneath a vehicle in Fgura yesterday evening at around 6 pm in order to find whether a SIM card was used and remained intact, sources close to the Police have told The Malta Independent.
The bomb is believed to be homemade.
The SIM card would prove crucial into finding the perpetrator who placed the bomb, which was activated but failed to trigger, underneath a Mitsubishi Pajero that was parked in a residential area on St Anthony's Street and could have potentially injured other civilians.
Credit: Net News
The vehicle has been taken by the police for further inspection.
The newsroom has also been informed that the car belonged to Mario Scicluna, a Gozitan from Sannat, who resides in the area.
Sources have said that Scicluna is known to the police in crime circles, however, was not one of the ten that had been arrested in connection with the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.
Should the bomb have detonated, it would have been the seventh of its kind since the start of 2016. The newsroom was told that investigators are examining whether this explosive is linked to the other attacks and cannot say for certain whether there is any correlation.
Credit: Net News
Foreign experts are yet to be called; however, sources have said that while the Maltese Police Force will currently handle the investigation, it is not an option they have ruled out.
Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera is heading the inquiry.
Initial Report
The Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) were called to defuse a bomb that was placed underneath a car in Fgura Thursday evening. The car, a Mitsubishi Pajero, was parked at a residential area in St Anthony's Street.
The car bomb which was activated failed to trigger. AFM members were asked for assistance after a person had informed the police that a strange noise could be heard, and a spark was seen coming from a parked car. The car belongs to a person that is "well known to the police".
AFM members of the bomb explosive unit together with police are on site to remove any danger to the residents.
The government in a statement said that it is committed to getting the perpetrators behind this crime. It expressed its support to the members of the AFM and the police and gave its assurance that it will provide them with the necessary resources so that this case will be solved.