Two men unhurt in explosion

Two men were unhurt when what is thought to have been an improvised explosive device placed in front of a boathouse belonging to one of them exploded yesterday (16 September 2013) at about 11:10 pm, in the whereabouts of it-Torri l-Abjad, in Armier.

Preliminary investigations found that the property's owner, 40, residing in Tarxien, and a friend, 31, residing in Qormi, noticed what they said was a mobile phone connected to a box with a number of wires, in an oven in front of the boathouse.

The two men had just finished having a barbecue.

Seeing this, the two men dashed towards their vehicles, a Peugeot 206 and a Land Rover Freelander, and drove towards the road. They were still not too far off when, they heard an explosion.

It was then that the men called for assistance, with the police arriving shortly after, followed by the Civil Protection Department, Explosives Ordinance Disposal and Enemalta to neutralise any hazards.

The men, together with others in the vicinity, were unhurt in the explosion.

Further investigations are underway while several experts have been appointed to assist with a magisterial inquiry.