Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/789855
8 maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 22 FEBRUARY 2017 News IN ALL LEADING BOOK SHOPS HISTORY OF ORNITHOLOGY IN MALTA 18 bomb attacks since 2010 CONTINUES FROM PAGE 1 Senior po- lice officials have told MaltaToday that law enforcement authorities will not be able to deal with the increased threat being posed by organised crime rings, without the necessary investment in intel- ligence. Romeo Bone, a man known to be involved with organised crime, lost his legs on Monday when a bomb which was placed in his car went off as he was driving through Msida, close to the Workers' Mon- ument. The use of car bombs by crimi- nals as a means of settling feuds is not a recent occurrence, how- ever the bombing was the fourth to have taken place in a period of only six months, leading to in- creased concern by citizens who fear that they could be injured or even killed in a similar attack. In January, a man died after a car bomb exploded in Qormi Road, Marsa, just outside the Maltapost depot. The victim - Victor Calleja, 'ic- Chippy' from Hamrun - was well- known to the police, having also been previously implicated in the 22 December 1998 holdup on a Group 4 security van, in which Lm50,000 (€116,000) in cash were stolen. In October 2016, a car bomb went off in Bugibba, killing a 67-year-old businessman, John Camilleri, aka Giovann tas-Sapu- na, owner of S&S Bathrooms. He died on site. It was the third car bomb ex- plosion of 2016, after a man was killed in Marsaskala in January. Two men were left injured after an explosive device – operated remotely – went off in Marsa in September of 2016. Rizzo warns against 'jumping to conclusions' Former police chief John Rizzo, who was in charge until 2013, said he cannot give a fair evaluation of how the police are currently deal- ing with the spate of car bombs which have shook the country in recent months. However, Rizzo said that there is a lot to say on the series of mur- ders and car bombs in recent years but "we should not jump to con- clusions." Asked whether the recent wave of murders is linked to organ- ised crime, Rizzo said he does not believe that there is anything comparable to Mafia organisa- tions such as Cosa Nostra or the Camorra in Malta. "These kind of organisations, as seen in Italy and other countries, involve politicians, members of the judiciary and police officers. In Malta it could more of a case of criminals involved in a turf war but it does not necessary imply that police officers and politicians are involved," Rizzo said. THE latest target in the recent spate of car-bomb attacks – Romeo Bone - is a well-known criminal, who's past is littered with court cases relating to drug trafficking, theft, as well as well as murder. In most cases, he has been cleared due to a lack of evi- dence. The more prominent cases that Bone has been linked to include the murder of Gozitan businessman Joe Baldacchino. Bone was investigated after a piece of paper with a scrawled note of the victim's car licence plate number was found in his car. Baldacchino had been shot in Valletta in November 2010 and died one month later in intensive care. The paper was found when Bone was stopped by the police and had his car searched in relation to allega- tions that he had intended to kill police constable Mario Portelli. Bone was cleared of stalking Portelli in 2012, and while he was listed as a suspect in the Baldacchino case, there was not enough evidence connect- ing him to the killing. In May of last year, he was also cleared of carrying out the armed robbery of the Luxe Pa- vilion Diamonds International outlet in Portomaso, St Julian's in February 2007. Almost €233,000 worth of jewellery were stolen in that particular incident. The court had ruled that none of the ac- cusations levelled against Bone had been sufficiently proven, clearing him of the charges. Who is Romeo Bone? Romeo Bone (INSET) was critically injured in a car explosion on Monday Bomb attacks since 2010 Date Locality No of fatalities/injuries Target December 2010 Floriana 3 Office November 2011 Hamrun 0 Vehicle October 2012 Fgura* 0 Vehicle September 2013 Armier 0 Boat house June 2014 Marsaxlokk 2 Vehicle November 2014 Zurrieq 0 Residence February 2015 Gudja 0 Garage April 2015 Mosta 0 Hut July 2015 Zebbug 0 Showroom December 2015 Birkirkara 0 Residence January 2016 Xaghra- Gozo 0 Residence January 2016 Marsascala 1 Vehicle March 2016 San Lawrenz - Gozo 0 N/A March 2016 Armier 0 Boat house September 2016 Marsa 3 Vehicle October 2016 St. Paul's Bay 1 Vehicle January 2017 Qormi 1 Vehicle February 2017 Msida 1 Vehicle (* = Bomb unexploded) Source: Police Community and Media Relations Unit In October 2016, a car bomb went off in Bugibba killing businessman John Camilleri