Marsa car bomb detonated by mobile phone – police sources

A bomb that rocked a Ford Transit yesterday evening on Aldo Moro Street in Marsa was detonated by mobile phone, police sources confirmed.

The attack happened on Monday evening at around 6.15pm during the evening rush hour.

The victim, Josef Cassar, works as a stevedore.

Cassar, who turns 36 today, has lost both legs in the incident.

Driver Joseph Cassar underwent a double leg amputation beneath the knee (Photo: Chris Mangion)

The bomb was attached to the bottom of the vehicle, most likely underneath the driver’s seat, causing extensive damage to the van’s interior. The van drove forward some 100 metres from when the explosion occurred, crashing into an electricity pole.

A passenger in the Transit – a 45-year-old man from Naxxar – was also injured. The blast from the explosion caused the windscreen of an Opel Zafira to shatter, injuring its driver in the face.

The police are now treating the case as attempted murder, looking into Cassar’s past.

All four south-bound lanes were closed as members of the bomb disposal unit scouted the area for evidence; the Armed Forces of Malta deployed a bomb disposal robot.

Roads leading directly to the south-bound lanes were completely closed as motorists were diverted to side roads. Police investigations on site continued late into the night as forensic experts studied the van for evidence, including fingerprints.