Four people were arrested in connection with the murder of Mario Farrugia, the police said in a statement on Thursday, with the main suspect being named as Elliot Paul Busuttil.

Farrugia was found murdered in the boot of a car in Qormi on 5 April.

At around 6pm last night, the police surrounded three different residences in Attard, Msida and Mosta, the statement said.

A man was arrested in a residence in Attard. A man and a woman were arrested in an Msida residence and another woman was arrested in a Mosta residence.

Elliot Paul Busuttil is believed to be one of the four arrested.  He is already facing attempted murder charges after he allegedly stabbed a 57-year-old Bulgarian and tried to steal his money in Ta Qali in 2020. 

The operation was led by the Criminal Investigations Department together with the St Julian's District Police, and the Forensic Laboratory.

Those arrested include Maltese and foreign nationals, the police said.

From the sites where the arrests took place, a number of objects that could assist the case were seized.

The four are being held in the Floriana Police HQ lock-up and they will be interrogated over the murder.

Farrugia's body was found after reports were made to the authorities of a strong, foul smell coming from the car.

The victim's head was covered with clothing and by a bloodied sheet down to his waist. The body had been found in a significant state of decomposition and the police were not able to identify the victim immediately. As such, a DNA analysis was required to identify the victim.

Farrugia had originally been reported missing on 2 April, having been last seen on 28 March near his residence in Pembroke.

The police said that the grey Peugeot 407 that the man had been using was the same car in which he was found murdered.