Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/791658
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 26 FEBRUARY 2017 6 Police need better intelligence to get a grip on organised crime MATTHEW VELLA FOR a country accustomed to watching how the tentacles of or- ganised crime undermine normal life on the TV screen of Italian news channels or through Holly- wood movies, a car bomb explod- ing on the busy Msida junction at 10:30am is too close for comfort for the Maltese. This was something many were expecting to happen after car bombs claimed the lives of various people in broad daylight, usually in isolated roads, or – in the case of a Naxxar businessman in St Paul's Bay – early in the morning. And the threat of bystanders being injured in one of these revenge car bombs, is now a clear concern for those worried by this new "fashion" of as- sassinations. But a senior police official has complained with this newspaper that Malta's police force must be equipped with better intelligence capabilities, if it is to get a grip on the organised crime that could be behind a spate of car bombs. "Intelligence would mean deploy- ing the full gamut of powers that the Malta Security Services has, but that means having more officers tasked with the right kind of tar- geted operation to intercept these criminals," the senior investigator said on the latest car bomb that was set off on the busy Marina Street, in Msida. The explosion left Floriana man Romeo Bone, 40, critically injured, losing both legs in the blast. Al- though frequently prosecuted in court, Bone had been acquitted of his participation in the 2007 Porto- maso jewellery heist, and charges of having stalked a police officer with intent to kill had been dropped. The explosion also took place at around 10:30am, at the junction of one of Malta's busiest roads, with two other persons hospitalised for shock, and the car in front and behind Bone's Renault Scenic, sus- taining damages in the blast. "It's a serious situation that re- quires having the kind of man- power and technological capability to intercept criminals who are re- sorting to explosive devices to clear out rivals and settle old scores," the senior investigator said. "That means both personnel on the ground stopping vehicles at night, and an intensification of in- News About car bombs Car bombs are a commonly used weapon for assassinations because they can be easy to hide and cheap to construct: the fuel in a car's tank magnifies the force of the explosion. Where car bombs are typically attached Typically they are positioned to direct the blast toward the driver, so a favourite location will be underneath the driver's seat if the perpetrator manages to access the car – probably aided by the cover of darkness. But bombs may also be attached under the car's frame or inside the driver's side mudguard, usually by employing a strong magnet or else clay-like adhesive. How car bombs are triggered The recent spate of car bombs in Malta shows that in some cases these car bombs are being triggered remotely using some form of radio or electromagnetic signal, such as a mobile phone, or else through a timer. Wiring the bomb with the car's ignition would take up too much time and make it more risky for someone whose target's car is in a built-up, well-populated area. A popular triggering mechanism is the "tilt fuse", attached to the brake or accelerator pedal. The tilt fuse is a small glass tube filled with liquid mercury, itself a very efficient electrical conductor, which, when tilted, completes the electrical circuit and triggers the bomb. How to defend against a car bomb There are ways you can defend yourself against a car bomb. Firstly, always park in a public, well-lit, populated area if possible. Make sure your car is locked and windows are closed (including the sunroof). Also consider a locking gas cap. Visually inspect the car prior to entering. Check wheel wells, bumpers, spoilers, exhaust pipes, and all framed areas underneath the car. Look for signs of fingerprints, tape, or any unusual object affixed to the car. Finally, look through the window and visually inspect the interior of the car before opening the door. Further precautions can be implemented if needed. Place small strips of clear tape over the hood, trunk, and gas cap and check for breakage prior to entering the car. Allowing the car to become slightly dirty can help conceal the tape. To check that hubcaps have not been removed, mark the position of the hubcap with a felt-tip pen (draw on the edge of the hubcap and allow the mark to extend onto the tire). Some car bombs may be near impossible to detect: You would have to look for other signs of tampering, such as fingerprints or changes to any "markers" you may have placed on the car. In October 2016, businessman John Camilleri was killed in Bugibba