Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/410228
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 5 NOVEMBER 2014 3 News Police inspector targeted by remotely detonated bomb JOHN PISANI A bomb that detonated on Blue Grotto Av- enue in Zurrieq yesterday morning targeted the house of police inspector Geoffrey Az- zopardi. The bomb exploded at 4:45am yesterday, causing maximum damage to the house's facade, blowing the garage door wide open and causing damage on the first storey of the house where Azzopardi and his family live in a maisonette. Azzopardi, 38, was at home with his wife, also 38, and two children aged 13, seven and a toddler. Nobody was injured in the explosion. It was Azzopardi who called the police soon after the bomb detonated. Azzopardi is in charge of the Police EU funds unit at the Floriana headquarters and was formerly a CID officer and in charge of the immigration department. Damage from the explosion, heard over a wide area, was also caused to neighbouring houses and parked cars. Azzopardi's father lived in the house adjacent to the garage be- neath the police inspector's maisonette. MaltaToday is informed that the bomb used was detonated using an electric current, possi- bly through a mobile phone or remote switch. The bomb was placed on the doorstep of the maisonette, which is accessible through the ground floor and whose entrance is recessed by a small staircase. No ball bearings or metal shrapnel were found. But the material used was pyrotechnical, probably used in the manufacture of fire- works. Sources said the blast would have been fatal to any passer-by. Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia, cur- rently abroad, sent out a tweet condemning the attack. "I condemn this act of violence against Inspector Jeffrey Azzopardi, violence against public officers is not acceptable and must be heavily punished." In a statement later issued by the ministry, Mallia said that the attack on a public official was a cowardly and vile attack against the State, "and the State must defend all members of the disciplined corps and safeguard them with all its might." Both Mallia and the Prime Minister have been in telephonic contact with Azzopardi. The minister said in a statement that he would demand that everything is done to find the person responsible for the attack. The govern- ment also said that a construction team is on site to start repair works on the residence. Shadow minister Jason Azzopardi called for "punishment without mercy" for whoever was culpable. Magistrate Natasha Sciberras carried out an on-site inquiry. Armed Forces of Malta sol- diers from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit were on site inspecting the house. AFM commander Jeffrey Curmi, a bomb disposal expert, was also on site. Acting Police Commissioner Ray Zammit said that "intensive investigations" have been launched to catch the perpetrator of the bomb attack. "I appeal for any information, even giv- en confidentially, that can lead to us solving such a shocking case." Justice Minister Owen Bonnici expressed solidarity with the police inspector and his family. Opposition leader Simon Busuttil was on site later on in the day to express solidarity with Azzopardi. "These attacks are condem- nable and unacceptable in a democratic soci- ety," Busuttil said. "The PN hopes the perpe- trator of the attack is caught in as short a time as possible." Alternattiva Demokratika chairperson Ar- nold Cassola described the attack as another strike from the 'Malta bomb mafia'. "Like all normal people with a minimum sense of reason, Alternattiva Demokratika cannot but condemn such uncivilised and violent behav- iour, which takes us back to the age of the Flintstones," he said on Facebook. One of the neighbours who spoke to Malta- Today, Carmen Pace, 68, was under shock af- ter having heard the explosion minutes after waking up. "My husband Joseph woke up at 4:30am to make coffee just before going off to mass," Pace said. "We heard the explosion, a loud bang and glass breaking, minutes later." Pace and her husband, 72, were treated for shock. Parliament last night expressed solidarity with Inspector Azzopardi and his family, and condemned the bombing. Neighbour recounts moment bomb went off in Zurrieq SALVU Sammut had just woken up and put the kettle on the stove when he heard a loud explosion outside his house at 4:45am. Running outside his house on Blue Grotto Avenue, Sam- mut saw a big plume of smoke and feared the worst for his neighbours, a family of five who live just two doors away from him. The explosion came from the bomb targeting the house of police inspec- tor Geoffrey Azzopardi, 38, who was with his 38-year-old wife and their children aged 13, seven and a tod- dler. Luckily, no one was injured in the explosion but an elderly couple, neighbours, were treated for shock. It was Azzopardi himself who called the police soon after the bomb went off. "I was preparing to go trapping when I heard a loud explosion. I ran outside and saw a big plume of smoke. I started shouting to see whether there was anyone injured and the inspector came out asking what had happened," Sammut told MaltaToday. He then walked on to a second house, which was also damaged by the blast. "I started calling out their names but no one answered. Then I heard voices and a woman saying 'I don't know what's happening'. But they reassured me they were doing ok." Sammut's own residence had shat- tered glass. He said that police offic- ers were on site within minutes. Members of the Armed Forces of Malta's Explosive Ordnance Dispos- al Unit were on site inspecting the house and sifting through the rub- ble. AFM commander Jeffrey Curmi, a bomb disposal expert, was also on site. The make of the bomb is a crucial element in the police's investigations. Deciphering the make and type of the bomb could lead them to who- ever constructed it, which in turn could lead them to the person or per- sons behind the attack. Retired army colonel Albert Camill- eri, an explosives expert, said that sifting through the debris caused by the bomb was an obligatory proce- dure to try and discover what sort of bomb and explosives were used. "One starts off by understanding what type of explosive was used," he said, adding that he used to divide the explosives in two: high and low explosives. Camilleri explained that high explo- sive would usually be material com- ing from war bombs. Low explosive, on the other hand, would be material used to make fireworks. "The damage on site immediately indicates what sort of explosive was used." Camilleri added that even the way doors were damaged indicate the type of explosive used as there are cases where doors are simply blown off their hinges or blown to bits. A bomb consists of the container and the explosive and putting togeth- er the container leads the experts to the type of explosive used. "Normally, high explosive mate- rial results in large pieces which are blown far off; the use of low explosive material causes small pieces," Camill- eri said, adding that each case had its own merits. Salvu Sammut was preparing to go trapping when he heard a loud explosion • Retired army colonel Albert Camilleri explains how remains could lead to bomb make PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN PISANI AND RAY ATTARD