Investigators fear turf war after latest car bombing

The car bombing which critically injured a 40-year-old man from Floriana earlier this week is linked to the recent murders of Sylvester Farrugia and Victor Calleja ‘ic-Cippy’, investigators believe.

Sources told MaltaToday that the victim of Monday’s car bomb explosion, Romeo Bone, has since regained consciousness but has remained tight-lipped on who might have been behind the bombing and the possible motive, making it more difficult for police to identify the perpetrators behind the shocking attack.

However, notwithstanding Bone’s silence, Labour newspaper Kullhadd said the discovery of drugs and a firearm in Bone’s burnt vehicle may shed light on the motive behind the recent spate of car bombings and murders, and could help identify the criminal organisations involved in the attack.

Police sources told the newspaper that the police have “a good idea” of who is behind the bombing and evidence is suggesting that it may be the result of a turf war between different criminal gangs.

“The finding of the drugs and the weapon is another piece of evidence in the police’s investigation … Investigators have a good idea of what is going on and the criminal organisations that may be involved. However, arraigning a person could be very difficult as a bomb leaves little or no traces behind it,” the newspaper reported.

The police sources also explained that investigators are currently operating under the belief that Bone’s case, the car explosion that killed Victor Calleja ‘ic-Cippy’, as well as the murder of Sylvester Farrugia, are all related.

MaltaToday had revealed that investigators believe there is a link between the car bomb attack which killed Calleja and the murder of Sylvester Farrugia. Two men – one of whom is a former police officer – were spoken to by the police but no arrests were made, sources had told MaltaToday.

Monday’s car bombing, which occurred in one of the country’s busiest roads, saw Bone lose both his legs. The victim was dragged away from the car by passers-by and police officers, eyewitnesses told MaltaToday.

Police are also investigating a “blue saloon car” which was spotted several metres behind Bone’s burning Renault Megane. The car is believed to have been following Bone’s vehicle, moments before the explosion, The Sunday of Times of Malta reported.

“Investigators were looking into CCTV footage of a ‘blue saloon car’ which was spotted several metres behind Mr Bone’s burning Renaltu Megane, moments after the bomb went off … People inside may have been observing Mr Bone,” police sources told the newspaper.